*ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has submitted items thatwhere gifted to him during visit of Saudi Arabia to Toshkhana forassessment.*
“The minister desires that the *Toshkhana* may retain the items and thesale proceeds may be deposited in the national exchequer,” the letterpenned by the foreign ministry read.
Qureshi was gifted precious items of worth rupees 6.35mn by Saudi CrownPrince Mohammad Bin Salman, during his visit to the Kingdom on September19, last year.
According to list of gifts that were submitted in *Toshkhana*, availablewith ARY News include a Rolex wrist watch worth rupees 4,850,000, gold penof 950,000 rupees, gold pair of cufflinks, tasbeh with gold and gems and agold 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 personalcustody of any individual, Qureshi said in his statement.
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The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led federal government after coming intopower, had decided in principle to put an end to budgetary allocation ofaround Rs516 million for gifts and entertainment.
The proposal to abolish the fund was floated during the recent cabinetmeeting and the members decided in unison to stop the practice.
