Govt bans retaining of gifts valued above $300 under new Toshakhana policy.

The federal government has implemented new policy for retaining gifts from Toshakhana, the state depository where gifts received by the government officials from foreign countries and dignitaries are kept.

The development comes as the government, in a historic move, release the record of Toshakhana gifts since 2002 that revealed how the former rulers, bureaucrats retained high-priced gifts for peanuts. However, the buying of gifts at a lower price was not illegal as there was law allowing them to pay a certain percentage after assessment the value of the items.

The current coalition government has now enforced new police titled 'Toshakhana procedure for the acceptance and disposal of gifts, 2023' with immediate effect. The policy was approved by the cabinet of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in February this year.

The policy has banned the presidents, prime ministers, cabinet members, judges, civil and military officers from buying gifts worth more than $300. They can retain gifts valued less than $300 in market.

Unlike previous policy, a ban has been imposed on retaining vehicles worth millions, expensive watches, jewelry and valuable gifts.

The officials have also been banned from receiving cash in gifts from domestic and foreign personalities. They are advised to immediately deposit the entire amount in the national exchequer if it becomes impossible to refuse the cash gift.

All gifts received by the government or public functionaries irrespective of their prices, must be reported and deposited in Toshakhana of the Cabinet Division within 30 days of receiving them.

All such gifts, including...