Pakistan has witnessed several controversies around the gifts received from foreign dignitaries, commonly known as Toshakhana (state gift repository). Last year, former Prime Minister and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, was sentenced to 14 years in prison in relation to a reference case of Toshakhana.
In response, the Federal Government has written new regulations regarding Toshakhana, which include a proposal to prohibit the heads of state or government officials to accept gifts during foreign trips.
These new rules, once approved by the federal cabinet, will require that Pakistani diplomats abroad guarantee the implementation of this policy in the countries where they are parked.
During an informative session to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, the secretary of the Cabinet, Kamran Ali Afzal, explained that, according to the current rules, gifts are accepted during foreign trips.
However, a new comprehensive policy is being formulated, suggesting that officials should not accept gifts during these trips. AFZAL added that countries around the world have variable policies in Toshakhana.
“In the Middle East countries, the law that governs Toshakhana is liberal, while in the United States and the United Kingdom, there are limits in the value of gifts that can be accepted,” he said.
Analysts argue that direct refusal or prohibition of receiving gifts from foreign nations goes against diplomatic standards. Instead, they advocate transparency in the system of deposit and purchase of gifts through Toshakhana.
The Majid Nizami analyst declared that the exchange of gifts between the heads of state and during diplomatic meetings is a long -standing tradition.
“To avoid disputes, prohibiting gifts under such rules is not a solution; instead, it is necessary that the system of depositing and buying gifts in Toshakhana is more transparent,” he said.
Nizami also clarified that the heads of state receive gifts due to their position, not due to their personal identity. “The gifts received from abroad are a representation of the State, not from the individual,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of transparency in the Toshakhana system, particularly in determining the value of the gifts, which should be based on its real value.
“There is nothing wrong with receiving or giving gifts. The government should establish clear rules to receive gifts and buy them in Toshakhana, thus eliminating any ambiguity,” Nizami added.
According to Rana Ghulam Qadir, a journalist and analyst who monitors the issues related to Toshakhana, the controversy that surrounds the regulations of Toshakhana began when the previous heads of state could pay part of the value of foreign gifts to retain them, while the low value gifts could be maintained without payment. This privilege was widely used by government officials.
Qadir pointed out that the Government of the Democratic Movement of Pakistan (PDM) had caused Toshakhana’s rules to be stricter, requiring that officials deposit expensive gifts that exceed a certain value to Toshakhana and pay low value gifts if they wanted to keep them.
Qadir also criticized the new proposal to prevent the heads of state from receiving gifts, calling him against the diplomatic label. “Not only our leaders refrain from accepting gifts abroad; we also present gifts to foreign dignitaries who visit Pakistan,” he argued.
He suggested that instead of stopping the practice, the government should focus on ensuring that all the gifts received transpose transparently in Toshakhana.
He also proposed that the government auction the gifts stored in Toshakhana and deposit income to the national treasure. The funds could be used to present gifts to foreign visitors who come to Pakistan.
