Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif auctions 1kg gold bar

According to documents released by the Cabinet Division, Prime Minister Sharif deposited the gifts received between July and September. Among them, the most valuable item is a 1,000-gram pure gold bar presented to him during his official visit to Kyrgyzstan from August 31 to September 2, which was officially logged into the state depository on September 8. Valuation assessments for the items are currently underway.

Other items deposited by the Prime Minister include handmade silk and wool carpets, decorative plates, vases, cufflinks, ties, calligraphy, paintings, traditional memorabilia, a model of Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH), prayer beads, model cars, Kyrgyz blankets, crystal shields, bronze vases, table clocks, books, perfumes, olive oil, soaps, scarves, and porcelain tea sets.

During the same period, President Asif Ali Zardari deposited seven gifts into the repository, including carpets, archery equipment, musical instruments, a framed image of Faisal Mosque, a chess set, and decorative items.

Cabinet members, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, also submitted official gifts received during their duties.

The Toshakhana serves as Pakistan's state depository where gifts received by the president, prime minister, ministers, and other officials from foreign dignitaries and governments are cataloged.

Under the updated Toshakhana (Management and Control) Rules, 2026, all legacy and newly deposited gifts must be sold through public auctions managed by the Cabinet Division. A dedicated committee chaired by the Federal Cabinet Secretary oversees the process, utilizing expert consultations where necessary.

The regulations require public officials to declare and deposit gifts within 30 days of receipt or return from foreign visits—extended to 60 days if dispatched separately. Except for the president and prime minister, public officials and delegation members are strongly discouraged from accepting personal gifts from entities connected to their official duties, mandating Toshakhana deposit when refusal violates diplomatic etiquette.

Under the revised policy, proceeds generated from the public auctions will be funneled into a separate dedicated account earmarked exclusively for advancing primary education for girls in Pakistan's most underprivileged regions, ensuring total transparency in state gift management.