Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has received over three dozen gifts, including 1,000 grams of fine gold from Kyrgyzstan, in three months (July to September). As per the information released by the Cabinet Division, all the gifts received by the prime minister on his foreign visits have been deposited in the Toshakhana under the control of the division, while the value of all the gifts is also being worked out.
The list of gifts also includes one box containing 1,000-gram fine gold which was deposited in the Toshakhana on September 8 this year. The prime minister received this valuable gift during his official visit to Kyrgyzstan from August 31 to September 2.
The gifts received by the prime minister include a handmade silk carpet, a shield, a plate, a tie, a set of cuff links, a calligraphy piece, a model of Roza-e-Rasool (SAW), two wool and silk carpets, a handmade souvenir, a painting, a wall hanging, a handmade glass decoration, a wooden plate, a model of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, a ceramic vase, two scarves, olive oil, small soaps, traditional perfume with Oud, a car model, a Kyrgyz-style large blanket, a ceremonial vase, books in a small bag, a large crystal shield, a bronze vase, a handkerchief, two Islamic prayer beads, six cups with saucers, and a table clock.
President Asif Ali Zardari received only seven gifts, which include two carpets, an archery set, a musical instrument, a Faisal Mosque frame, a chess set, and a decoration piece. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and other Cabinet members, including Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, and other senior officials, also received gifts during this period, which were deposited in the Toshakhana.
The federal government has tightened rules governing gifts received by public office-holders by notifying the Toshakhana (Management and Regulation) Rules, 2026 in September this year, according to which all existing and future gifts received in the Toshakhana shall be disposed of through an open auction by the Cabinet Division, with the approval of a committee headed by the Federal Secretary of the Cabinet Division.
The committee may seek expert advice, where required, in the discharge of its responsibilities. Any gift received by a public office-holder or a private person as part of an official delegation shall invariably be declared and deposited by the recipient in the Toshakhana, as required under Section 3 of the Act, within 30 days of receipt of the gift, or thirty days from the date of return of the recipient to Pakistan in case of a foreign visit, or within sixty days in case the gift is required to be shipped to Pakistan separately.
Transparency international and local watchdogs have frequently called for stringent oversight on state gifts, making the latest disclosures a significant step towards public accountability in government affairs. Political analysts believe that the timely declaration of these high-value assets sets a positive precedent for the current administration's commitment to institutional transparency and adherence to newly formulated anti-corruption frameworks.
Further reviews of asset declarations from provincial ministers are expected in the upcoming cabinet sessions to ensure compliance across all tiers of governance in the country.