The Toshakhana records from March 2023 to December 31, 2024, reveal that several high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, received gifts during this period, as per the Cabinet Division.
Among the recipients were President Asif Ali Zardari, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, former caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, former President Arif Alvi, and former Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa.
Additionally, federal ministers Musadik Malik, Rana Sanaullah, Attaullah Tarar, and Jam Kamal were listed as recipients, along with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister of Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, and Minister of Law Azam Nazeer Tarar.
Other notable figures mentioned include MNA Aseefa Bhutto, Senator Talha Mahmood, Tariq Fatemi, Yousaf Raza Gilani, FBR Chairman Rashid Langrial, and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Further recipients included Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, Vice Admiral Abdul Samad, Chief Security Officer to the Prime Minister Muhammad Imran, Brigadier Shahryar Munir Hafeez, President Zardari’s Military Secretary, and Major General Tajdid Mumtaz, the Prime Minister’s Military Secretary.
Former caretaker ministers such as finance minister Shamshad Akhtar, foreign minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, IT minister Dr. Umar Saif, commerce minister Gohar Ejaz, and energy minister Muhammad Ali were also named among the beneficiaries.
Under a policy introduced by the Shehbaz government, recipients were allowed to retain gifts valued at $300 or less, while more expensive gifts had to be deposited with the Toshakhana.
Records dating back to 1997 indicate that figures such as Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Gohar Ayub Khan, former presidents Pervez Musharraf and Rafique Tarar, as well as Dar, Khawaja Asif, Sheikh Rashid, Tahmina Daultana, and Saeed Mehdi, were also among those who received gifts.
In 1998, then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif received gifts worth Rs1.721 million, retaining them after paying Rs259,121. These included a gold and diamond jewelry set and a luxury watch. As Punjab Chief Minister, Shehbaz Sharif received gifts valued at Rs1.315 million, retaining them after a payment of Rs198,544. His gifts included a gold watch and wristwatches for men and women.
Musharraf, during his tenure as chief executive, retained a television set and a decorative bowl for free while paying for a dragon figurine, a watch, and a Kehwa pot. Then-President Tarar and then-Foreign Minister Abdus Sattar retained several gifts, either for free or after making payments. Asif kept a luxury watch, while the then-Ehtesab Bureau chairman retained a table clock after payment.
Lt Gen (retd) Iftikhar Ali Khan paid to keep a table clock, while Syeda Abida Hussain purchased a jewelry box. Several former foreign secretaries also retained gifts received during official engagements after making payments.
Since the introduction of the revised Toshakhana policy in 2023, President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz have deposited all gifts with the Toshakhana. Shehbaz paid $30 each to retain a candy box and a painting.
Former President Alvi deposited most of his gifts but retained a briefcase after making payment, while former caretaker Prime Minister Kakar followed a similar approach. Since March 2023, most Toshakhana recipients have adhered to the updated policy by depositing their gifts.
