PAC seeks 78-year Toshakhana record
The Toshakhana is a repository which stores precious gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats and other officials by heads of other governments and foreign dignitaries. PHOTO: FILE
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday demanded a complete record of Toshakhana dating back to 1947, uncovering irregular amendments and opaque auction processes.
Officials revealed that Toshakhana rules were altered without cabinet approval between 2001 and 2018, while records before 2002 remain classified.
Lawmakers also raised concerns over the lack of public auctions for state gifts, with the government considering a complete ban on public officeholders retaining gifts.
During the meeting, chaired by Junaid Akbar, the committee reviewed the Cabinet Division's audit report for 2023-24 and ordered the submission of Toshakhana records dating back to 1947.
However, the cabinet secretary said that records prior to 2002 were classified. He added that under the new Toshakhana Act 2024, rules were being revised, including serious consideration of banning public officeholders from accepting gifts during foreign visits.
The PAC also demanded details of all auctioned Toshakhana gifts within 15 days.
The cabinet secretary stated thaAt Toshakhana records from 2002 to 2024 were available online.
However, the PAC chairman instructed that hard copies be provided to committee members and all archived records be uploaded to the website.
PAC members noted that the Toshakhana policy previously allowed public officeholders to retain gifts by paying 30% of their value. However, under the new act, they must pay 100%.
The committee was also informed that Toshakhana gifts had never been auctioned publicly.
However, the cabinet secretary cited the lack of private-sector appraisers as the reason, despite multiple advertisements for the role.
The panel subsequently postponed all audit objections related to Toshakhana.
The committee also reviewed an audit observation regarding the non-distribution of nearly Rs2 billion for PSL 8 among PCB and franchises. Audit officials briefed that the funds remained undistributed due to issues between PCB and franchises.
Expressing displeasure over the absence of PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, the PAC chairman questioned, "Shouldn't the PCB chairman be present in today's meeting?"
The cabinet secretary explained that Naqvi could not attend due to security concerns in Quetta and Balochistan.
However, another official informed PAC that the interior minister was, in fact, present in the country.
PAC members, including Syed Naveed Qamar and Senator Fawzia Arshad, insisted that the PCB chairman be summoned, with Qamar stating, "If someone refuses to appear, you can issue notices and even arrest warrants under civil judge powers".
The chairman humorously responded, "Do you want me to spend the rest of my life in jail?"
The PAC also questioned expenses for the 2025 Champions Trophy, stating that while Rs29 billion was spent, revenue generated was only Rs1 billion.
NEPRA audit
The PAC also took issue with NEPRA for allegedly undermining parliamentary oversight by challenging a performance audit in the High Court.
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