Ishaq Dar tops list with 19 gifts in latest Toshakhana record

Cabinet Division has released the Toshakhana record for July to September, revealing that the president, prime minister and several other government officials received valuable gifts.

According to a statement issued by the Cabinet Division, all gifts have been deposited with the division, while the process of assessing their value is currently underway.

Toshakhana is a government repository administered by the Cabinet Division where gifts received by the president, prime minister, federal ministers, government officials and other authorised officeholders from foreign heads of state, governments and prominent personalities are deposited.

Under the relevant rules, public officeholders are required to declare such gifts and deposit them with Toshakhana. Decisions regarding the retention of gifts, payment of their assessed value or their sale through auction are made in accordance with the applicable policies and regulations.

According to the Cabinet Division, President Asif Ali Zardari received several gifts, including a musical instrument, a bow-and-arrow set, carpets, decorative items and other presents.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also received one kilogram of gold, along with carpets, a model of Roza-e-Rasool (the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah), a tie, cufflinks, a table clock and other items.

The Cabinet Division stated that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar topped the list, receiving 19 gifts. These included paintings, perfumes, cufflinks, cups and other items.

Federal ministers Attaullah Tarar, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Hanif Abbasi and Ahsan Iqbal are also among those who received gifts, according to the record.

Toshakhana controversy

Toshakhana came into the spotlight in 2022 after allegations emerged against former prime minister Imran Khan over the retention of gifts received during official visits and their alleged non-disclosure in his assets.

In October 2022, the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified Imran Khan in the Toshakhana reference.

The ensuing political and legal debate, along with public demands for access to official gift records, prompted the federal government to make public, in March 2023, the records of gifts deposited in Toshakhana between 2002 and 2023.

The records included details of gifts received by public officeholders during different governments.