Islamabad:
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) demanded on Wednesday a complete Toshakhana file dating from 1947, discovering irregular amendments and opaque auction processes.
The officials revealed that the Toshakhana rules had been modified without approval from the firm between 2001 and 2018, while the files before 2002 remain classified.
Legislators have also raised concerns concerning the lack of public auctions for state donations, the government considering a complete ban on owners of public functionalities retaining gifts.
During the meeting, chaired by Junaid Akbar, the committee examined the audit report of the firm’s division for 2023-24 and ordered the submission of Toshakhana Records dating from 1947.
However, the firm’s secretary said that the files before 2002 were classified. He added that by virtue of the new Toshakhana Act 2024, rules were being revised, including a serious examination of the ban on public functional holders to accept gifts during visits abroad.
The CAP also asked for details on all Toshakhana gifts sold at auction within 15 days.
The cabinet secretary said Thaat Toshakhana’s files from 2002 to 2024 were available online.
However, the president of the CAP has asked that paper copies be provided to the members of the Committee and that all archived files be downloaded from the website.
The members of the CAP noted that Toshakhana’s policy previously enabled holders of public functions to keep gifts by paying 30% of their value. However, under the new law, they have to pay 100%.
The committee was also informed that Toshakhana’s gifts had never been sold publicly.
However, the secretary of the cabinet cited the lack of private sector assessors as a reason, despite several advertisements for the role.
The panel then postponed all audit objections linked to Toshakhana.
The Committee also examined an audit observation concerning the non-distribution of almost 2 billion rupees for PSL 8 among PCBs and franchises. Audit managers informed that the funds had remained not distributed due to problems between the PCB and the franchises.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the absence of the President of the PCB, Mohin Naqvi, the president of the CAP questioned: “Shouldn’t the president of the PCB be present at today’s meeting?”
The cabinet secretary explained that Naqvi could not attend due to security problems in Quetta and Balutchistan.
However, another civil servant informed PAC that the Minister of the Interior was in fact present in the country.
PAC members, including Syed Naveed Qamar and Senator Fawzia Arshad, insisted that the President of the PCB is summoned, Qamar declaring: “If someone refuses to appear, you can issue opinions and even stop civilian judge”.
The president replied with humor: “Do you want me to spend the rest of my life in prison?”
The CAP has also questioned spending on the Champions 2025 trophy, declaring that if 29 billion rupees were spent, the revenues generated were only Rs1 billion.
Nepra audit
The CAP also challenged the Nepra for having allegedly undermined parliamentary surveillance by contesting a performance audit before the High Court.
