Senate panel told: No Toshakhana gift worth $300 or more to be retained

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Committee on the Cabinet Secretariat was Friday informed that no gift worth $300 or more was allowed to be taken from the Toshakhana.

The committee also sought the details of Toshakhana gifts received after February 2023.

Senator Rana Mahmood Al Hasan chaired the committee meeting in which the working procedures of the Cabinet Division and its subsidiaries, and the performance of the last three years were reviewed in detail.

Regarding the Toshakhana, the committee was told that the policy was amended last year under which no one could now keep any gift worth more than 300 dollars to be displayed in the Parliament House, the President’s House or the Prime Minister’s House.

The policy has been made by the federal government and the value of the gift is estimated by the FBR and an outside expert.

The committee was told that in the past, government employees could participate in the Toshakhana auction but under the new policy, government employees will also not be able to participate in the auction.

The committee was informed that the Cabinet Division had 18 bullet-proof vehicles and no new vehicles had been purchased after the 2016 policy.

Senator Mahmood Al Hasan said for improvement in the country’s affairs, an effective strategy would be adopted together with the Members Committee and the Cabinet Division.

The members of the committee also expressed full cooperation and good wishes for the chairman committee.

The Special Secretary Cabinet Division informed the committee about the details and said the prime minister of Pakistan was in charge of the Cabinet Division and the Cabinet Division also had subsidiaries and regulatory bodies.

The committee was told that the matters sent by the cabinet, cabinet committees, National Economic Council and secretaries committee were dealt with by the Cabinet Division.

Apart from this, the matters sent by the president, prime minister, federal ministers, advisors and governors are also dealt with.

The Cabinet Division also looks after the appointments, salaries, resignations, benefits etc. of ministers and advisers, preservation of estate documents, Toshakhana, public holidays, flag rules and commissions of inquiry etc.

The standing committee has been appointed by regulatory authorities including Frequency Allocation Board (FAB), Nepra, New Pakistan Housing Development Authority, Ogra, PTA, Pipra, Special Technology Zone Authority, National Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing Terrorism Authority, National Seed Development Authority and detailed information was given on Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority.

The special secretary also briefed the standing committee about the relevant organizations Asset Recovery Unit, Institution Reforms Cell, Islamabad Club, National Archives of Pakistan, PTDC, PCB and Printing Corporation of Pakistan.

Rana Mehmoodul Hassan invited the administrator and secretary of the Islamabad Club in the next meeting.

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla asked about the terms and conditions to become a member of Islamabad Club and if a member had a second wife, could she become a member.

The special secretary Cabinet Division said that the Cabinet Division had no role in becoming a member, and that it was an internal problem of the club.

Senator Anusha Rehman asked why the institution for abandoned properties consisting of 20 employees was given Rs140 million.

The Standing Committee sought the details of the budget of the Abandoned Property Agency.

Mandviwala said as many 117 cases were pending with the cabinet and that if this was the situation for the Cabinet Division then what would happen to the rest of the departments.