Pakistan to introduce new Toshakhana rules: What’s changing?

Pakistan has witnessed several controversies surrounding the gifts received from foreign dignitaries, commonly referred to as the 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 Toshakhana reference case.

In response, the federal government has drafted new regulations regarding Toshakhana, which include a proposal to prohibit heads of state or government officials from accepting gifts during foreign trips.

These new rules, once approved by the federal cabinet, will require Pakistani diplomats abroad to ensure the implementation of this policy in the countries where they are stationed.

During a briefing to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, Secretary of the Cabinet, Kamran Ali Afzal, explained that under the current rules, gifts are accepted during foreign trips.

However, a comprehensive new policy is being formulated, which suggests that officials should not accept gifts during these trips. Afzal added that countries around the world have varying policies on Toshakhana.

“In Middle Eastern countries, the law governing Toshakhana is liberal, whereas in the US and the UK, there are limits on the value of gifts that can be accepted,” he said.

Analysts argue that the outright refusal or ban on receiving gifts from foreign nations goes against diplomatic norms. Instead, they advocate for transparency in the system of depositing and purchasing gifts through Toshakhana.

Analyst Majid Nizami stated that the exchange of gifts between heads of state and during diplomatic meetings is a long-standing tradition.

“To avoid disputes, banning gifts under such rules is not a solution; instead, there is a need to make the system of depositing and purchasing gifts in Toshakhana more transparent,” he said.

Nizami further clarified that heads of state receive gifts because of their position, not due to their personal identity. “Gifts received from abroad are a representation of the state, not the individual,” he said.

He emphasized the importance of transparency in the Toshakhana system, particularly in determining the value of gifts, which should be based on their actual worth.

“There is nothing wrong with receiving or giving gifts. The government should establish clear rules for receiving gifts and purchasing them from Toshakhana, thereby eliminating any ambiguity,” Nizami added.

According to Rana Ghulam Qadir, a journalist and analyst who monitors Toshakhana-related matters, the controversy surrounding Toshakhana regulations began when previous heads of state were allowed to pay part of the value of foreign gifts to retain them, while low-value gifts could be kept without payment. This privilege was widely utilized by government officials.

Qadir noted that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government had made Toshakhana rules stricter, requiring officials to deposit expensive gifts exceeding a certain value into Toshakhana and pay for low-value gifts if they wished to keep them.

Qadir also criticized the new proposal to stop heads of state from receiving gifts, calling it against diplomatic etiquette. “It is not only our leaders who refrain from accepting gifts abroad; we also present gifts to foreign dignitaries visiting Pakistan,” he argued.

He suggested that instead of halting the practice, the government should focus on ensuring that all received gifts are deposited transparently in Toshakhana.

He also proposed that the government auction the gifts stored in Toshakhana and deposit the proceeds into the national treasury. The funds could then be used to present gifts to foreign visitors coming to Pakistan.