The federal government has introduced new rules governing the management and regulation of Toshakhana, discouraging public office holders, except the president and prime minister, from accepting gifts from local or foreign dignitaries.
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The Cabinet Division issued the Toshakhana (Management and Regulation) Rules, 2026 on September 22, introducing new procedures for receiving, depositing, valuing, storing and auctioning official gifts.
Officials Advised Against Accepting Gifts
Under the new rules, public office holders other than the president and prime minister are discouraged from accepting gifts from local or foreign dignitaries.
Private individuals accompanying official delegations are also discouraged from accepting gifts for themselves or their families from dignitaries, persons or companies they engage with in connection with official business.
Where accepting a gift cannot be avoided because of diplomatic norms or cultural sensitivities, the recipient must deposit it in Toshakhana.
Officials are required to declare and deposit such gifts within 30 days of receiving them. In the case of foreign visits, the deadline runs from the recipient’s return to Pakistan, while gifts shipped separately to Pakistan may be deposited within 60 days.
Cash Awards for Lower-Grade Employees
The rules provide an exception for employees in BS-1 to BS-4, who may accept and retain cash awards from visiting dignitaries when refusing them could cause offence.
Gifts to Be Auctioned
The new rules provide for the disposal of existing and future gifts deposited in Toshakhana through open auction.
The Cabinet Division will conduct the auctions with approval from the committee constituted under the rules. Live media coverage of the auctions will also be arranged through the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Auctions will preferably be held every two years, but must take place at least once during each financial year. Public office holders and their families will not be permitted to participate in the auctions.
Certain Gifts Excluded from Auction
Gifts classified as antiques or those with cultural or historical significance will not be auctioned.
Gifts considered precious or having diplomatic or international sensitivity, including gifts received from foreign heads of state or government, will also be excluded from auction.
Auction Proceeds for Female Primary Education
Under the new framework, proceeds from the auctions will be deposited into a separate account and used to promote female primary education in the country’s most backward areas.
The relevant federal education ministry will maintain the account, while funds are to be disbursed within six months of deposit, subject to prior approval from the prime minister.
AI Can Be Used to Assess Gift Values
The new rules also allow advanced generative AI assistants approved by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication to be used as a reference when assessing the value of gifts.
The provision introduces an additional digital tool into the valuation process while retaining the formal procedures prescribed under the rules.
Stricter Security and Record-Keeping
An officer of the Cabinet Division not below BS-20 will be responsible for the security and maintenance of records relating to gifts deposited in Toshakhana.
The rules also require physical locking systems and CCTV coverage for the Toshakhana storeroom.
The new framework replaces earlier gift-management procedures with a more structured system covering the acceptance, declaration, valuation, storage and disposal of official gifts. The Cabinet Division’s website continues to maintain Toshakhana records and lists the 2026 rules among its active policies.
