Qureshi submits Saudi gifts worth 6.35 million to govt toshakhana

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has submitted items that where gifted to him during visit of Saudi Arabia to Toshakhana for assessment, reported ARY News on Wednesday.

“The minister desires that the Toshakhana may retain the items and the sale proceeds may be deposited in the national exchequer,” the letter penned by the foreign ministry read.

Qureshi was gifted precious items of worth rupees 6.35mn by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, during his visit to the Kingdom on September 19, last year.

According to list of gifts that were submitted in Toshakhana, available with ARY News include a Rolex wrist watch worth rupees 4,850,000, gold pen of 950,000 rupees, gold pair of cufflinks, tasbeh with gold and gems and a gold ring.

The precious items gifted to the government officials in any foreign tour, always belong to the national exchequer and they cannot be kept in personal custody of any individual, Qureshi said in his statement.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led federal government after coming into power, had decided in principle to put an end to budgetary allocation of around Rs516 million for gifts and entertainment.

The proposal to abolish the fund was floated during the recent cabinet meeting and the members decided in unison to stop the practice.

This allocation had been made by the previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, which was later approved by parliament.