Short Introduction and Story of  Toshakhana:

The Toshakhana in Pakistan is a fascinating story that has been shrouded in mystery for many years. Toshakhana, which translates to "treasure trove" in English, is a repository of gifts and valuable items given to the President, Prime Minister, or any other high official of the Pakistani government.
The Toshakhana was established in 1972, after the nationalization of banks and industries in Pakistan, which led to the government's accumulation of wealth. The purpose of the Toshakhana was to store and manage the valuable items that were gifted to government officials. Initially, the Toshakhana was located in the Presidential Palace in Islamabad, but it was later shifted to the Cabinet Division Building.
Over the years, the Toshakhana has received an array of valuable gifts from foreign dignitaries, heads of state, and other influential personalities. These gifts include luxury cars, jewelry, gold, and even rare animals. However, the Toshakhana has also been at the center of numerous controversies due to allegations of mismanagement and corruption.
One of the most significant controversies surrounding the Toshakhana was the issue of the 200 luxury cars gifted to the President and Prime Minister during the tenure of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The cars, which were worth millions of dollars, were allegedly kept by the Prime Minister for his personal use, leading to widespread criticism from the public and the media.
In 2018, the government of Pakistan decided to auction off the luxury cars stored in the Toshakhana as part of an austerity drive to cut down on government expenditure. The auction was a massive success, with the government raising over $20 million by selling off 61 luxury cars, including a bulletproof Mercedes-Benz and a Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Despite the controversies, the Toshakhana remains an essential institution in Pakistan's political landscape. It serves as a repository of the country's history and diplomatic relations, and it is a symbol of the power and prestige of Pakistan's government officials.
In terms of the legal framework for managing the Toshakhana, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for receiving, recording, and managing the gifts received from foreign dignitaries. The Cabinet Division is responsible for storing and managing the gifts received by high government officials. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) also has the authority to investigate any cases of corruption or mismanagement in the Toshakhana.
As of 2023, the Toshakhana remains an active institution, and it continues to receive valuable gifts from foreign dignitaries and high officials of the Pakistani government. The Toshakhana remains a symbol of Pakistan's rich history and culture, and it is a testament to the country's diplomatic relations with other nations.

ISLAMABAD: The Cabinet Division made the records of the Toshakahana from 2002 to 2003 public on Sunday, with details of objects, their recipients and their value all out in the public. The 466-page Toshakhana record was uploaded on the Cabinet Division website with the details of the foreign gifts received over the last 21 years. The record was released on the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Toshakhana gifts' record since 2002:

The names of former presidents, former prime ministers, ministers and government officials are among the recipients of the foreign gifts in the Toshakhana record.
Prominent of those whose details have been made public include the incumbent Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Dr Arif Alvi, former President Pervez Musharraf, former Prime Ministers Shaukat Aziz, Yousuf Raza Gilani, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan.
According to the record, the present government received 59 gifts in 2023. Last year, 224 gifts were received in 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.
According to the document, former Prime Minister Imran Khan received a diamond gold watch worth Rs 8.5 crore from Toshakhana, got a pair of cufflinks worth Rs 5.670 million, a pen worth Rs 1.5 million and a ring worth Rs 8.750 million.

According to Business Recorder Blog:

According to the document, Imran Khan received a box of Oud wood and two perfumes worth Rs 0.5 million without making any payment. It further stated that Imran Khan kept a valuable watch worth Rs1.5 million for which he paid Rs294000.
The document revealed that Imran Khan paid a total of Rs20017700 for all the four items, besides Imran Khan got another watch worth Rs3.8 million by paying Rs705400.
In 2008, according to the document, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif bought a Mercedes Banner car from Toshakhana. In 2008, the price of the Mercedes car was Rs4.255 million of which he paid Rs6,36000.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received dozens of things as gifts which he kept for free which included a cow model, a bowl, dagger, chocolates, honey, herbal tea, jam and a jar, etc. Shehbaz Sharif also bought a decoration piece for Rs5000. He got a ceramic bowl worth Rs20,000, a painting worth Rs12,000 for free. On July 15, 2009, Shehbaz Sharif as chief minister deposited all the gifts in Toshakhana.
According to the records, the value of the gifts given to General Pervez Musharraf (retd) in 2004 was revealed to be more than Rs65 lakh, the price of the watch got by General Pervez Musharraf in 2005 was said to be Rs 0.5 million. Musharraf, at different times, received dozens of valuable watches and jewellery boxes which he had kept after paying money according to the law.
Former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz got a watch worth Rs850,000 which was auctioned for Rs355,000 rupees while he kept hundreds of gifts worth less than Rs10,000 without payment.
Apart from this, PML-N leader Amir Muqam received a watch in 2005, the price of which was stated to be Rs0.55 million.
Former Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali installed the Kaaba model in the Prime Minister’s House, while a jewellery box given to General Pervez Musharraf’s wife in 2003 was valued at Rs 2,634,387.
According to the records, in the year 2018, former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was gifted a Rolex watch worth Rs 25 million, while in April 2018, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s son Abdullah Abbasi received a watch worth Rs 55 lakh. Similarly, another son of Shahid Khaqan, Nader Abbasi, received a watch worth Rs1 crore and 70 lakh as a gift, which he kept with himself after depositing Rs 33 lakh 95 thousand rupees.


According to the records, in 2018, Prime Minister’s Secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad received a watch worth Rs 19 lakh. Also, in 2018, Prime Minister’s Military Secretary Brigadier Waseem received a watch worth two million rupees, which he kept with him after depositing three lakh 74 thousand rupees in Toshakhana.
In September 2018, former Prime Minister’s Chief Security Officer Rana Shoaib received a Rolex watch worth Rs 29 lakh as a gift, while on September 27, 2018, former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi received gifts worth Rs 73 lakh, which he kept in the Toshakhana.
In December 2018, President Arif Alvi received a watch, a Holy Quran and other gifts worth Rs 1.75 million, out of which he kept 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 Rs 8 lakh and a bracelet worth Rs 51 lakh, which she deposited in Toshakhana. In May 2006, former finance minister Umar Ayub donated a watch worth Rs 4.5 lakh to Toshakhana.
On December 2, 2008, former president Asif Zardari paid for a watch worth Rs 5 lakhs and kept it with him. On January 26, 2009, Asif Zardari received three cars as a gift. Asif Zardari got two cars worth Rs 5 crore 78 lakh and Rs 2 crore 73 lakh rupees, respectively. Asif Zardari kept the three vehicles with him by paying more than Rs 2 crore and 2 lakh.