As previously stated by the federal government, gifts received by Pakistan’s prime minister from another country are neither advertised nor compared with those received by the prime minister of another country.
The following statement was made on Monday by Dr Shahbaz Gill, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication. To be more specific, Gill was responding to a conversation on social media over the government’s choice to keep the specifics of gifts received by Prime Minister Imran Khan from foreign heads of state confidential.
The release of lists of gifts and comparisons with those of other countries are regarded inappropriate, particularly by Islamic countries with which Pakistan has a fraternal relationship, according to Gill.
In a statement, the SAPM stated that normally, Prime Minister Imran Khan leaves such gifts at the Toshakhana; but, if he wants to keep them with him, he will be required to pay a fee.
However, he did not go into detail about which specific presents were kept and which were deposited in the Toshakhana (temple).
When such presents were given in past administrations, a 15 percent payment was made to the recipient; however, under the PTI government, a 50 percent payment has been made to the recipient’s account.
As an apparent jab at previous governments, Gill asserted that presents from other countries had not disappeared and will not do so during the PTI’s administration.
Information about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s gifts has been withheld by the government, which has also disputed the Information Commission’s decision to divulge this information with a concerned citizen.
The Cabinet Division believes that disclosing such information will generate unneeded media attention and news coverage, and that it may have a negative influence on relations with friendly countries.
Cases against past prime ministers and a president, including Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, and Yusuf Raza Gilani, are currently pending in Pakistani courts in connection with gifts received by them while on official trips of the country.
Asif Ali Zardari and Yusuf Raza Gilani are among those identified in a reference for allegedly acquiring expensive vehicles from the government at a discount of 15 percent off the real purchase price.
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