Toshakhana rules

Published January 14, 2023

ACCORDING to media reports, the government is planning to go public with Toshakhana records. This is encouraging, but not enough. I recently went through the rules and regulations related to state gifts in various countries, and it is distressing to learn that in an economically-hit country like ours, the Toshakhana rules are framed to suit ‘some’.

In India, for instance, any gift up to Rs5,000 can be retained without any payment, and, in England, the limit is 1400 euros, while in Pakistan, a gift with value up to Rs30,000 can be retained for free. Similarly, in India, England and the United States, one has to pay 100 per cent amount of the market value to retain a gift, but in Pakistan it is only 20pc of the market value.

More appalling is the fact that the market value is set at the lowest level without even consulting the market.

Our politicians keep expressing their eagerness to help the country, but if they are even a wee bit sincere in such assertions, they should be making changes to the Toshakhana (Manage-ment and Regulation) Act, 2022, which is yet to be approved by parliament, and is lying idle at the drafting stage.

Muhammad Hassan Ansari
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.
Concerning measures
Updated 03 Nov, 2024

Concerning measures

The govt must seek political input and consensus on the changes it is seeking to make and be open about its intentions.
Short-lived relief?
03 Nov, 2024

Short-lived relief?

POLICYMAKERS must be jumping with joy. At the close of the first quarter of FY25, the budget posted a consolidated...
Brisk spread
03 Nov, 2024

Brisk spread

THE surge in polio cases has reached distressing levels with a tally of 45 last reported, after two cases emerged in...