Govt has introduced a new Toshakhana policy 2023 under which the President, Prime Minister, and cabinet members are prohibited from accepting Toshakhana gifts with a value exceeding $300.
The new Toshakhana policy also prohibited judges and civil and military officers from accepting gifts valued at more than $300.
The government has issued the necessary instructions, and the Toshakhana Policy 2023 will be implemented immediately.
The new policy comes after the government disclosed the details of Toshakhana gifts 2002–2023, which indicates that prominent political figures retained gifts after making the bare minimum payments.
Toshakhana gifts and gifts from foreign notables and dignitaries that are presented to senior state and government officials and placed in a “treasure house” are typically regarded as the state’s property.
According to government policy, only the political and bureaucratic elite, civilian and military, and superior court judges may receive these gifts.
Gifts given to the most powerful groups in society are typically kept on highly subsidized terms, sold at auction to the federal government and military officers, or received during official foreign trips or from foreign dignitaries. The Toshakhana becomes the owner of whatever remains.
According to credible sources, the government has outlawed accepting gifts such as automobiles, jewellery, watches, and other valuables worth millions of rupees.
According to the sources, it will be illegal for the president, prime minister, cabinet, judges, and civil and military officers to accept gifts valued at $300 or more. It will also be illegal for the president, the prime minister, and the cabinet to accept cash gifts from foreign or domestic dignitaries.
No one will be permitted to purchase vehicles and priceless antiques received as gifts, according to the sources. In addition, judges and civil and military officers will not be permitted to accept cash gifts from domestic and foreign dignitaries. If they receive such gifts, they will be instructed to “immediately deposit” the entire amount into the national treasury.
The sources explained that valuable antiques would be displayed in government-owned locations under the new policy. At the same time, donated vehicles will be catalogued and displayed in the Cabinet Division’s central carpool. In addition to the president, prime minister, cabinet members, judges, and civil and military officers permitted to do so at market value, the policy also states that the public will be permitted to purchase gifts worth more than $300 through an open auction.
Other than the president and prime minister, no other officials will be permitted to receive gifts for their families, and gold and silver coins will be donated to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
According to the sources, anyone who violates the Toshakhana policy will face severe punishment, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs employees will be required to give gifts to the Cabinet Division. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and private companies will use their expertise and discretion to determine the value of the gifts. In contrast, the Pakistan Ordinance Factory and a private company will determine the value of the gifts of weapons.
The sources indicate that employees in grades 1 through 4 can accept cash gifts from foreign dignitaries.
