A private member’s bill to manage and regulate Toshakhana was presented to the Senate Secretariat on Wednesday, proposing that holders of public office and their family members should not be allowed to hold or buy gifts.
Bill, a copy of which is available with don.comThe PPP was presented by Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi and will be taken up in the Upper House of Parliament on Private Members’ Day.
Established in 1974, Toshakhana is a department under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division and stores precious gifts given by other governments, heads of states and foreign dignitaries to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats and officials as goodwill gestures.
It houses valuables ranging from bulletproof cars, gold-plated souvenirs, expensive paintings to watches, jewelry, carpets and swords.
Soon after Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif came to power, Toshakhana and its treasury are back in the political limelight after allegations by his predecessor Imran Khan. expensive gifts sold PTI mouthpieces such as Fawad Chaudhry, for their part received from the Allied countries, had then said that there was “nothing wrong” in selling the things acquired legally.
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Recently, members of the coalition government have often referred to Imran’s maintaining Toshakhana. to object On the “Sadiq” and “Amin” status of the former prime minister.
The bill, presented today, states that the cabinet division will be responsible for the management and regulation of all gifts kept in the Toshakhana. It added that an evaluation committee should also be set up to ensure that all gifts received are deposited in a safe and transparent manner.
The committee will submit an annual report to the federal cabinet detailing the receipt and disposal of gifts including deposits in the treasury, the bill said, adding that it will also formulate terms of reference for its functions.
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The bill also outlines the procedure for depositing, retaining and disposing of gifts, stating that public office holders and their family members will not be allowed to buy gifts from Toshakhana directly or through public auction.
It also states that public office holders or their relatives shall not be allowed to retain any category of gifts after the retention cost has been paid.
“All gifts received by the holder of a public office, irrespective of their prices, should be reported and immediately deposited in the Toshakhana of the Cabinet Division. If it is found that a person has not reported the receipt of the gift, appropriate action will be taken.” will be taken against him.”
It also stated that the Cabinet Division would receive the value of gifts assessed by government sector experts and private appraisers at the Federal Board of Revenue.
“If the difference in the value of the gifts assessed by the two categories of appraisals is less than 25 per cent, the higher level will be accepted. However, if the difference in value is 25 pc or more, a committee constituted by the cabinet secretary will decide . Value,” it says.
In addition, it states that those suitable for display must be properly cataloged and subsequently displayed in government buildings or the official residences of heads of state. “An annual physical verification/stock taking in respect of such articles shall be taken by an authorized officer of the Cabinet Division in the first quarter of every calendar year.”
The Bill states that gifts falling in the category of sale will be disposed of through public auction, while purchase of antiques and vehicles by recipients will not be allowed.
The Toshakhana (Maintenance and Administration) Rules, 1974, (as amended up to 2012), apply to the President, Prime Minister, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Senate, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Federal Ministers, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament. Government servants and employees of autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, whether on duty or on leave, in connection with the affairs of the Government or while on deputation with any other body, agency, institution or authority.
Under the rules, it is mandatory to deposit gifts of a certain value in Toshakhana. However, an officer is also allowed to keep these gifts, provided he pays a certain percentage of the value as determined by the Toshakhana Valuation Committee.