The long-awaited records of Toshakhana gifts received by public office holders from foreign governments and dignitaries since 2002 were made public by the government on Sunday.
The Toshakhana was established in 1974 and is a department under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division. It houses priceless gifts that foreign dignitaries and heads of other governments and states have given to rulers, lawmakers, bureaucrats, and officials. Gifts/presents and other similar materials received by individuals to whom these rules apply must be reported to the Cabinet Division, per Toshakhana regulations. In light of proceedings against former prime minister Imran Khan for “not sharing details” of Toshakhana gifts, the department has been in the news recently.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had previously stated that the government intended to make the entire record available to the public. Additionally, he had forbade the officials from keeping any gifts that cost more than $300. The following are some of the more noteworthy findings in relation to the gifts that political leaders over time have kept from the Toshakhana:
Nawaz Sharif
Three-time former prime minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif retained a Mercedes Benz (Rs4.2m) in April 2008 after paying Rs636,888 for it. In November 2913, he retained a Rolex wristwatch (Rs1.18m) after paying a total of Rs243,000 for it and some other items.
He also kept a Piaget wristwatch (Rs1m) in January 2015 after paying Rs240,000 for it and a box of perfumes.
In January 2016, he retained a Christopher Claret watch (Rs2m), a ring (Rs19.5m) and a pair of cufflinks (Rs16m) after paying a total of Rs7.6m for them and some other items. Meanwhile, his wife Kulsoom Nawaz retained a bracelet (Rs12.7m) and a necklace and earring (Rs41.6m) after paying Rs10.8m for them.
In February 2016, Nawaz retained a Dela Cour watch (Rs3.2m), a ring (Rs8m) and a pair of cufflinks (Rs5m) after paying Rs3.2m for them. In October 2016, he retained a Rolex watch (Rs1.2m) and another Rolex watch (Rs850,000) after paying Rs469,000 for them and some other items.
In March 2017, his son, Hussain Nawaz, retained a Rolex watch (Rs940,000) after paying Rs186,000 for it. Meanwhile, the PML-N supremo himself retained a diamond necklace (Rs1m) after paying Rs207,560 for it and a table watch.
In May 2017, Nawaz retained a Rolex wristwatch (Rs4m) after paying Rs808,000 for it.
Asif Ali Zardari
Former president and PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari in January 2009 retained a BMW car (Rs57.8m) and Toyota Lexus (Rs50m) after paying a total of Rs16.1m for them and another BMW car (Rs27.3m) after paying Rs4m.
In March 2011, he retained a wristwatch (Rs1m) after paying Rs158,250 for it and some other items. In June 2011, he retained a Corum wristwatch (Rs1.25m) after paying a total of Rs189,219 for it and some other items. Another Cartier wristwatch (Rs1m) followed in October 2011 with a payment of Rs321,000 for it and a gun.
Imran Khan
Former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan in September 2018 retained a Graff wristwatch (Rs85m), a pair of cufflinks (Rs5.6m), a pen (Rs1.5m) and a ring (Rs8.75m) after paying Rs20m for them.
In October 2018, he retained a Rolex watch, assessed at Rs3.8 million, after paying Rs754,000 for it. Another Rolex watch (Rs1.5m) followed in the month after paying Rs294,000 for it. In November 2018, Imran retained another Rolex wristwatch (Rs900,000) after paying a total of Rs338,600 for it and other items.
In October 2019, he retained a boxed watch, assessed at Rs1.9m, after paying Rs935,000 for it.
In September 2020, Imran retained yet another Rolex watch, assessed at Rs4.4m, after paying Rs2.4m for it and a number of other gifts. In the same month, his wife Bushra Bibi also kept a necklace (Rs10m), bracelet (Rs2.4m), ring (Rs2.8m) and a pair of earrings (Rs1.85m) after paying Rs9m for them.
Arif Alvi
President Dr Arif Alvi’s wife, Samina Alvi, retained a necklace (Rs1.19m) in October 2019 after paying Rs865,000 for it and other items in a jewellery box.
The president himself retained a Rolex wristwatch (Rs2.5m) in February 2022 after paying Rs1.2m for it.
Others
Former prime minister and National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf retained a Graff wristwatch assessed at Rs890,000 in November 2012 after paying a total of Rs218,000 for it and other items.
Ex-premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi retained a Hublot wristwatch (Rs15m), a pair of cufflinks (Rs1.2m), a pen (Rs1.5m), a ring (Rs3m) and prayer beads (Rs1.85m) in October 2017 after paying Rs4.5m for them. His wife Sameena Shahid also retained a jewellery set (Rs99m) after paying Rs19.99m for it.
In November 2017, Abbasi retained a Rolex watch boxset (Rs23m) after paying Rs4.59m for it. In April 2018, he retained a Rolex wristwatch (Rs25m) after paying a total of Rs5.27m for it and other items.
Former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gillani’s wife, Fauzia Gillani, retained a jewellery set (Rs2m) after paying Rs326,043 for it in December 2009.
