By Wasif Ali Khan
TWA
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The Auditor General’s special audit report on Tosha Khana has exposed crucial findings, including the achievements of previous administrations and ongoing violations in the management of state gifts. The audit reveals that changes to Tosha Khana Rules were made without Cabinet approval across various periods.
The report highlights irregularities in the estimation and disposal of gifts from 2018 to 2021, disclosing gifts valued at Rs. 42.5 million processed without proper authority. It details rule violations spanning several years, including 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2017, and 2018, implicating governments led by Pervez Musharraf, PPP, PML-N, and PTI. Notably, concessions granted to prime ministers through relaxed rules were declared illegal.
The report also sheds light on historical practices, revealing that in 1956, Pakistani officials replaced expensive gifts received from China with replicas, keeping the originals. Additionally, from 2002 to 2022, gifts worth Rs. 22.69 million were unverified, and crucial records from 1990 to 2002 were not provided to auditors by the Cabinet Division.
Further, the report indicates that gifts from 1987 to 2015 were not auctioned, despite Cabinet approval for the declassification of records post-2002. The administration’s response cited these earlier records as classified, though the Auditor General’s Office is authorized to access all relevant records.
The audit also highlights the lack of verification certificates for Tosha Khana gifts and issues with the estimation process, including the hiring of a private individual in violation of rules. The Auditor General has recommended a thorough inquiry to uncover the facts and hold accountable those responsible.
