Pakistan tightens Toshakhana rules with new 2026 regulations

The federal government has tightened the rules governing the Toshakhana and introduced a new regulatory framework for gifts received by public officials.

The Cabinet Division has issued a notification for the Toshakhana Management and Regulation Rules 2026, introducing stricter procedures for receiving, depositing, valuing, storing and auctioning official gifts.

Under the new rules, the government will discourage the acceptance of gifts by public officials, with the exception of the president and prime minister. All gifts currently held by the Toshakhana, as well as newly received gifts, will be put up for auction.

The proceeds from the auctions will be used to support girls’ education in underdeveloped areas. The rules also require a third-party audit of all gifts received and held by the Toshakhana during every financial year.

According to the notification, gifts will generally be sold through open public auctions. However, items considered culturally, historically or diplomatically sensitive will be excluded from the auction process.

Auctions will preferably be conducted twice a year, while at least one auction must be held every year.

Government officials and members of their families will not be allowed to participate in Toshakhana auctions. Gifts forming part of a set will also be sold as a complete set rather than being separated and auctioned individually.

The new rules also provide for live media coverage of the auctions to improve transparency. A committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary will oversee decisions relating to the gifts.

The committee will include additional secretaries from the Finance, Foreign Affairs, Law and Culture divisions. It will determine which gifts should be auctioned and which items have historical or other special significance.

The rules state that if accepting a gift becomes unavoidable because of diplomatic protocol, the item must be deposited with the Toshakhana.

Officials receiving gifts must deposit them within 30 days. In the case of gifts received during foreign visits, the items must be deposited within 30 days of the official’s return to Pakistan.

A period of up to 60 days will be allowed for gifts transported separately from the official travelling party.

Employees in grades 1 to 4 will be permitted to retain cash awards under the new rules. However, failure to deposit a gift within the prescribed period could result in a complaint being filed before a court.

The government has also introduced a revised mechanism for determining the market value of gifts. The Federal Board of Revenue and private valuers will assess the items.

If there is a difference of more than 25 per cent between the two valuations, the opinion of a third valuer will be obtained and treated as final. Artificial intelligence may also be used as a reference tool for determining indicative prices.

The value of weapons received as gifts will be determined by Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) Wah.

The new regulations also establish stricter security requirements for Toshakhana items. Their custody will be assigned to a Grade-20 officer, while CCTV surveillance and proper locking arrangements will be mandatory in the Toshakhana storeroom.

The government will also publish records and photographs of all gifts on a dedicated web portal. However, the name of the person or country that presented a gift will not be disclosed.