20000325

Cabinet directive

Gifts received

by govt officials

to be reported

to Toshakhana

ISLAMABAD: The Cabinet Division has directed all the officials of government departments, corporations, autonomous/semi-autonomous bodies and nationalised institutions to report to Toshakhana about the gifts received from abroad.

According to a notification, the responsibility for reporting the receipt of the gifts will continue to devolve on the individual recipient.

All gifts received by a Government Servant, irrespective of their prices must be reported to the Toshakhana in the Cabinet Division, Government of Pakistan.

The gifts are generally given when foreign dignitaries or delegations come to Pakistan or our VIPs or delegations go abroad.

If the Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs or his representatives has been attached to a visiting dignitary or a foreign delegation, it will be his responsibility to supply a list of the gifts together with the names of the recipients to the Cabinet Division.

In the case of other delegations or visiting dignitaries with whom the Chief of Protocol or his representative is not associated, the Ministry sponsoring the visit shall be responsible to supply the details of gifts received and the list of recipients to the Cabinet Division and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In case of the outgoing delegations or visits abroad of VIPs, it will be the responsibility of Ambassador of Pakistan in the country concerned to report the receipt of the gifts together with the name of the recipient to the Cabinet Division through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

If on checking the list, it is found that an individual has not reported the receipt of a gift, appropriate action will be taken against him under the relevant rules.

Government officials except those belonging to Grade 1 to 4 are prohibited from receiving cash awards offered by the visiting foreign dignitaries. Such gifts may be politely refused.

In case, however, it becomes impossible to refuse without causing offence to the visiting dignitary, the amount should be immediately deposited in the treasury under the specific head.

Government officials except the President and Chief Executive of Pakistan are prohibited from receiving gift of any kind for their persons or for members of their families from Diplomatic, Consular and other foreign government representatives or their employees, who are stationed in Pakistan.

As the Heads of Missions in Pakistan have been informed of this decision no offence would be caused by the return of the gift.

If, however, due to very exceptional reasons the gift cannot be returned, it should invariably be deposited in the Toshakhana.

These instructions, however, would not apply to gifts/donations made to institutions.

The value of the gifts will be assessed by the Cabinet Division which will devise an improved and practical system of assessing in the country, whenever possible, the value of all gifts received.

The monetary limits up to which the gifts could be retained by the recipient have been revised.

The new limits are as follows:-

Gifts up to a value of Rs. 10,000 may be retained (free of cost) by the recipient. In case of low paid government employees (BPS-1-BPS-10) the gift may be retained by the recipient irrespective of the value assessed.

Gifts valued above Rs. 10,000 may be allowed to be retained by the recipients on payment of 25 percent of the value exceeding Rs. 10,000.

Gifts valuing Rs. 400,000 or more shall not be retained by the recipients. Such gifts shall be treated as state property for disposal in accordance with these rules.

The Head of Account of Toshakhana in which the amounts are to be deposited is "1,300,000-Others (NES)/MISC. Receipt of Durbar Presents (Central).

Presents deposited in Toshakhana which are fit for display shall be properly catalogued and then displayed in the public rooms of the Foreign Office and in the residences of the Head of the State, the Head of the Federal Government and the Governors. Such articles would be properly entered in the Toshakhana register and in the stock registers of the respective offices.

An annual verification preferably in the first week of January shall be carried out in respect of such articles and a report submitted to the Cabinet Secretary.

Gifts which are not fit to be retained or displayed shall be disposed of any periodical sales to be arranged by the Cabinet Division.

The Cabinet Division will ensure a wider circulation of the notice for periodic restricted sale of such gifts. Such sales could be negotiated also on the basis of a reserve price, if no buyers are available in the restricted auctions.

These auctions will be held once or twice a year.

The list of gifts to be sold in such auctions will be circulated to all Federal Government officers and officers of the Armed Forces.

All antique items and cars shall not be allowed to be purchased by the recipient, antiques shall be placed in the Museums or displayed in the official buildings owned by the Government. Cars shall be given to the Central Pool of Cars of the Cabinet Division.

Gifts given to the President, the head of the government will not be sold in auction. These gifts will be placed in Museums or public buildings.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should also standardise gifts to be presented at various levels to the foreign delegations. These standardised gifts could be used by other ministries as well.ÑAPP