Gifts in Pakistan’s Thoshakhana Up for Auction

WEB DESK: Valuables in the Pakistan Tosha Khana have been put up for auction by the federal government. 

According to the notification issued by the Cabinet Division, the government has decided to auction 177 valuables kept in Tosha Khana.

The prices of the valuable items have been determined by market experts and the FBR.

According to the the condition, only government and military officers can take part in auction, while political, social and public figures cannot participate in it, however, certain individuals are allowed to bid.

Former PPP senator Sehar Kamran in her tweet referring to the auction of Toshakhana items wrote that the items have been presented to government and military officials for auction.

غیر ملکی سربراہان مملکت یا رہنماوں کی طرف سے پاکستان کو دیے گے بیش قیمت تحائف جو توشہ خانے میں جمع کیے جاتے ہیں، نیلامی کے لیے سرکاری اور فوجی افسروں کو پیش کردیے گئے ہیں۔
اہم سوال یہ ہے کہ کیا یہ امیر سرکاری افسر بولی کے ساتھ ساتھ اپنی آمدنی کے ذرایع بھی پیش کریں گے؟ #توشہ_خانہ pic.twitter.com/v6DAlyt7XG

— Senator Sehar Kamran T.I. (@SeharKamran) October 27, 2020

She has also raised the question that whether these wealthy government officials will present their source of income in the bid.

The Items in the Thoshakhana are gifts, given to the President, Prime Minister or other dignitaries by the other countries during their official visits.

According to the law of Pakistan, they have to be deposited in the Thoshakhana, however if a president or prime minister is interested in these gifts, then they have to pay 50% of their value.

However, those who kept these items without paying the price can be prosecuted. Recently NAB has prosecuted former president Asif Ali Zardari and ex prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Yousuf Raza Gilani.