Audit Report Reveals Major Irregularities in Toshakhana Gift Management

Islamabad: The Auditor General’s special audit report on Toshakhana has unveiled significant and intriguing revelations, including questionable practices by past administrations. The report indicates that changes to Toshakhana rules were made without cabinet approval during various governments.
According to the special audit report, irregularities occurred in the valuation and disposal of gifts from 2018 to 2021. It was discovered that gifts worth 42.5 million rupees were disposed of without proper authority during this period.
The report references the years 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2017, and 2018, noting violations of regulations under the administrations of Pervez Musharraf, the Pakistan People’s Party, the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. It states that from 2011 to 2018, procedures were altered, rendering all concessions granted to prime ministers under relaxed laws illegal.
The audit report also highlights various malpractices by previous governments. For instance, in 1956, Pakistani officials received expensive gifts from the Chinese government, but instead of placing the original gifts in Toshakhana, duplicates purchased from Hong Kong were stored there while the originals were kept separately.
The report further reveals that between 2002 and 2022, 226.9 million rupees worth of gifts could not be verified. The Cabinet Division failed to cross-check gift receipts with the Federal Treasury Office and was unable to provide records of Toshakhana from 1990 to 2002. Additionally, data on the value of received gifts, first entries, and auction details were not provided.
The report also uncovers that between 1987 and 2015, Toshakhana gifts were not auctioned within the prescribed period. Although the Cabinet approved declassification of Toshakhana records post-2002, the administration claimed that earlier records could not be provided due to their classified status. However, the Auditor General’s Office has the authority to obtain any record from the government.
The audit report also mentions the lack of certificates confirming the authenticity of Toshakhana gifts and failure to verify gifts displayed at prominent locations. It notes that a private individual, contrary to rules, was hired to estimate the value of gifts. The Auditor General has recommended an inquiry to uncover the facts and identify those responsible.