ISLAMABAD: Government declassified Toshakhana records and uploaded whole 466-page data from 2002 to 2023 on Cabinet Division’s website. Those who acquired gifts from Toshakhana include former presidents, prime ministers, ministers and government officers. Names that appeared in publicised Toshakhan records included Pervez Musharraf, Shaukat Aziz, Yousaf Raza Gillani, Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan, Arif Alvi and Shehbaz Sharif.

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led federal government approved making details of Toshakhana gifts received over past two decades, public. Announcement was made by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on his official Twitter handle. “Cabinet has allowed declassification of Toshakhana records. It would soon be posted on website of Cabinet division,” Minister wrote in tweet.

As per country’s law, any gift received from dignitaries of foreign state must be put in state depository or Toshakhana.

Toshakhana records Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif acquired Mercedes Benz in 2008. Market price of luxury car was Rs 4,25,5000 which was purchased at price of only Rs 636,000 from Toshakhana Moreover, he purchased glass set at price of Rs 43,000 and Rs 6,000 paid for carpet. He paid Rs 240,000 for cufflink and watch worth Rs 1,200,000. He acquired vase worth Rs 8,000 without paying any amount.

 Former President Asif Ali Zardari paid Rs 79,005 for Jovani watch and horse model worth Rs 540,000. He received gifts of BMW worth Rs 5,078,000 and Toyota Lexus worth Rs 5,000,000. He paid Rs 16,100,000 for purchasing both vehicles. He acquired painting worth Rs 10,000 without paying any amount. He purchased BMW luxury car at price of 4,100,000 in 2009 whose actual market value was Rs27,300,000. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari received vase worth Rs 6,500 without paying any amount to exchequer.

Shehbaz Sharif Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif did not pay for dozens of items of Toshakhana, including cow model (R8,000), decanter (Rs25,000), wall hanging (Rs17,000), bowl, dagger (Rs50,000), booklet (Rs10,000), stadium model (Rs15,000), onyx plate (Rs2,200), horse metal sculpture (Rs28,000), chocolate and honey (Rs12,000), jar (Rs10,000), Uzbek products including books (Rs33,000) and painting (Rs28,000).

PM Shehbaz Sharif paid Rs 185,000 for golden vase whose actual price was Rs400,000. Then Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif purchase decoration piece at Rs 5,000 whose actual price was Rs 35,000 in 2013. Sharif kept ceramic bowl (Rs20,000) and painting with frame (Rs12,000) without paying single penny to exchequer. Other items included vase (Rs22,000), Orange Train model (Rs10,000), souvenir (Rs8,000), honey (Rs1,000), herbal tea (Rs3,000), jam (Rs6,000), three footballs (Rs15,000), decanter (Rs22,000), Arabian coffee container (Rs26,000), Arabian coffee (Rs26,000), bowl set (Rs10,000), carpet (Rs30,000).

Imran Khan had long list of gifts. He retained Rolex watch valued at Rs 8.5 crore, pair of cufflinks, pen and one ring by paying only Rs two crore. Whereas originally cufflinks were valued at Rs 56,70,000, pen Rs 15,00,000 and ring was priced at 87,50,000, according to record. He retained wooden oud box and two perfumes free of cost. Value of these items was Rs 500,000. He also kept for himself Rolex watch priced Rs 1.5 million by paying only Rs 294,000.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 13 2023

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