The federal government has further tightened the rules governing the Toshakhana and issued a notification introducing new regulations.
The Cabinet Division has issued the notification for the Toshakhana Management and Regulation Rules 2026. Under the new rules, the acceptance of gifts by officials other than the president and prime minister will be discouraged.
All gifts currently held by and received by the Toshakhana will be auctioned, while proceeds from the auctions will be spent on girls’ education in underdeveloped areas.
According to the notification, all gifts received by the Toshakhana will undergo a third-party audit every financial year. All gifts will be sold through open public auctions, while culturally, historically and diplomatically sensitive gifts will not be auctioned.
Auctions will preferably be held twice a year and at least once annually. Government officials and their families will not be allowed to participate in the auctions. The auctions will also receive direct media coverage.
Under the new rules, a committee headed by the Cabinet secretary will be established to make decisions regarding gifts. Additional secretaries of the Finance, Foreign Affairs, Law and Culture divisions will be members of the committee.
The committee will determine which gifts are to be auctioned and which have historical significance.
Also Read: New Toshakhana Rules Require Public Officials to Declare Gifts Within 30 Days
According to the notification, if accepting a gift is unavoidable due to diplomatic protocol, it must be deposited with the Toshakhana within 30 days. In the case of an overseas visit, the gift must be deposited within 30 days of return, while gifts arriving on a separate aircraft will have a 60-day deadline.
Employees in grades 1 to 4 will be allowed to retain cash awards. A complaint will be filed in court if a gift is not deposited within the prescribed period.
The market value of gifts will be determined by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and private valuers. If there is a difference of more than 25 percent between the two valuations, the opinion of a third valuer will be considered final.
Artificial intelligence (AI) may also be used as a reference for determining the value of gifts, while the Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF), Wah, will determine the value of weapons.
The notification further states that the security of the gifts will be entrusted to a Grade-20 officer. CCTV cameras and locking arrangements have been made mandatory in the Toshakhana storeroom.
The record and photographs of all gifts will be published on a web portal. However, the name of the person and country presenting a gift will not be disclosed on the portal.
