Govt releases 22-year record of Toshakhana gifts

On the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the federal government on Sunday released a 466-page document consisting of records of the Toshakhana (official gift repository) starting from 2002 to 2023. The recipients of the gifts include former presidents, former prime ministers, federal ministers, and senior government officials. The names of former President General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, former prime ministers Shaukat Aziz, Yousuf Raza Gilani, Nawaz Sharif, Raja Pervez Ashraf, and Imran Khan were among the most notable in the list of beneficiaries. The records released also include details of gifts given to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Dr Arif Alvi. According to the documents, 224 gifts were registered in the Toshakhana in 2022, 116 gifts in 2021, 175 gifts in 2018, and 91 gifts in 2014, while 177 gifts were received by government officials in 2015. Pervez Musharraf As per the record, Musharraf received gifts worth Rs6.5 million in 2004. He got a watch priced at that time at Rs5,000 in 2005. At different points throughout his tenure, Musharraf received luxury watches and jewellery boxes, which he kept by paying the required amount as per law. He also got gifts worth Rs1.4 million on January 31, 2007. Read more: Toshakhana data to be made public On April 6, 2006, the wife of the former president, Begum Sehba Musharraf, received gifts worth 1.65 million. On August 1, 2007, she received gifts worth Rs 3.4 million. She also got gifts worth Rs14.8 million on April 3, 2007. Asif Ali Zardari On December 2, 2008, former president Asif Ali Zardari paid for a watch which was worth Rs0.5 million whereas, on January 26, 2009, he got two BMW cars worth Rs57.8 million. He also got a Toyota Lexus worth Rs50 million. Zardari paid 20.2 million and kept all three cars for himself. Asif Zardari paid more than two million rupees and kept the three vehicles. On October 28th, 2011, Zardari received gifts worth Rs1,615,000. On June 13, 2011, he kept gifts worth Rs1.6 million by paying the required amount. Apart from this, on August 15, 2011, Asif Zardari kept gifts worth Rs847,000. Nawaz Sharif The total value of the Mercedes car given to Nawaz Sharif was Rs 4,255,919. On April 20, 2008, the former prime minister kept the Mercedes car by paying Rs636,888. Shehbaz Sharif As the Punjab Chief Minister, Shehbaz Sharif deposited all the gifts he received on July 15, 2009, in the Toshakhana. On June 10, 2010, Shehbaz submitted paintings worth Rs40,000 to Toshakhana. Shahid Khaqan According to records, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was gifted a Rolex watch worth over Rs25 million. His son Abdullah Abbasi was also gifted a watch worth Rs5.5 million. Abbasi's another son Nadir also got a watch worth Rs10.7 million which he kept after paying over Rs3.3 million. Imran Khan As per the official record, Imran Khan also received valuable gifts in the year 2018. In September 2018, Imran Khan received gifts worth Rs100.9 million, including a watch worth Rs80.5 million. The watch was made of 18-carat gold. The PTI Chairman had deposited Rs20.1 million to the Toshakhana and kept these gifts. Dr Arif Alvi In December 2018, President Arif Alvi received a watch, a copy of the Holy Quran and other gifts worth Rs 10.75 million, out of which he kept the copy of the Holy Quran and deposited the other gifts in the Toshakhana. Similarly, in December 2018, First Lady Begum Samina Alvi also received a necklace worth Rs0.8 million and a bracelet worth Rs5.1 million, which she deposited in Toshakhana. On January 2009, Dr Arif Alvi received an AK-47 as a gift worth Rs0.6 million. He paid the required amount as per law and kept the weapon.

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