A special audit report by the Auditor General of Pakistan has unveiled significant irregularities and unauthorized changes in the rules of Toshakhana, the state repository for gifts received by government officials, over the years.
Key findings of the audit reveal that the rules governing Toshakhana were amended multiple times without Cabinet approval. The changes were made during various past governments, including the Pervez Musharraf era, the People's Party tenure, the PML-N, and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) period.
The audit has brought to light various anomalies in the handling of gifts. For instance, during a 1956 visit of the Pakistani prime minister to China, the delegation received valuable gifts from Chinese officials. However, rather than depositing them, replicas purchased from Hong Kong were placed in the Toshakhana. It revealed that the genuine gifts were retained by the officials.
The report declares all the concessions given to prime ministers over the years through relaxation of laws illegal. It refers to irregularities committed in the years 2001، 2004، 2006، 2007، 2011، 2017 and 2018 during which the rules were abolished through amendments.
It further details irregularities in the estimation of the gifts' worth and their disposal between 2018 and 2021, including the unauthorized disposal of gifts worth Rs42.5 million. It also points out that key administrative functions were handled by lower-ranking officials, such as the deputy secretary and joint secretary, instead of the cabinet secretary.
Some past governments have been particularly notorious in this regard, the report maintains, adding that gifts worth Rs226.9 million could not be accounted for between 2002 and 2022. The Cabinet Division did not compare gift receipts with the federal treasury office, and it also failed to provide the Toshakhana records from 1990 to 2002 to the audit authorities.
The report stated that the value of gifts received, their first entry, or auction data was also not provided. Moreover, the non-auction of gifts within a specific timeframe between 1987 and 2015 has also been identified.
It further said the cabinet only approved the declassification of Toshakhana records from 2002 onwards and did not provide the earlier record on the pretest of it being classified.
The report said the auditor general's office was authorized to obtain any records from governments. The AG office also recommended inquiring into the amendments to the rules and identify those responsible. Moreover, it was revealed that the Toshakhana gifts kept at prominent places were not even verified and complained about the non-provision of certificate regarding verification of the gifts.
The report also highlighted that a private person was hired against rules to estimate the value of the gifts. It includes a recommendation for a thorough inquiry to ascertain the facts and determine responsible parties for these lapses. It also calls for an investigation into the changes in Toshakhana rules and their impact on the repository’s management.
