The Government of the Punjab
Finance Department has issued notification No.E&A(FD)11-2/2018(Vol-1) dated
07-01-2018 regarding guidelines for the acceptance and disposal of gifts. In the said notification, it is stated that circular
letter No. SO (FG) 3-30/2017, dated 27.12.2018, is self-explanatory for
guidance regarding the acceptance and Disposal of Gifts.
The Government of the Punjab
Finance Department already advised in circular letter No. SO (FG) 3-30/2017,
dated 27.12.2018 in connection with acceptance and disposal of Gifts. In the
said notification the authority gives the reference of the office memorandum No.8/5/2017-TK
dated 18th December 2018 issued by the Government of Pakistan Cabinet Secretariat
Cabinet Division as a procedure for acceptance and disposal of Gifts.
The Government of Pakistan Cabinet
Secretariat Cabinet Division follows the procedure for acceptance and disposal of
gifts received by Government/Public functionaries.
1.
The responsibility rest with the
individual recipient to report receipt of the gift(s) to the Cabinet Division. All
gifts received by the Government/Public functionaries irrespective of their
prices must be reported and deposited immediately in Toshakhana of the Cabinet
Division, Government of Pakistan. If it is found, on checking, that an
individual has not reported the receipt of a gift, appropriate action will be
taken against him under the relevant rules.
2.
If the Chief of Protocol, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, or his representative has been attached to a visiting
dignitary or a foreign delegation, it shall be his responsibility to supply the
list of the gifts received, together with the names of the recipients, to the
Cabinet Division. In the case of other delegations or visiting dignitaries with
whom the Chief of Protocol or his representative is not associated, the
Ministry sponsoring the visit shall be responsible to supply the details of
gifts received and the list of recipients to the Cabinet Division. In the case
of outgoing delegations or visits abroad of our dignitaries, it shall be the
responsibility of the Ambassador of Pakistan and/or Head of the Pakistan
mission in the country concerned to report the receipt of the gifts, together
with the name of the recipients, to the Cabinet Division through the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs.
3.
Government/Public functionaries, except
those in BPS 1 to BPS 4 are prohibited from receiving cash awards offered by visiting foreign dignitaries. Such gifts may be politely refused. In case, however
it becomes impossible to refuse without causing offense to the visiting
dignitary, the amount shall be immediately deposited in the Government treasury
and a copy of the Treasury Challan shall be provided to the Toshakhana Incharge, Cabinet
Division.
4.
Government/Public functionaries, except
the President and the Head of the Government, are prohibited from receiving
gifts of any kind for their person or for members of their families from
diplomats, consular, and other foreign government representatives who are
stationed in Pakistan
or from any public organization or private individual and firm within the
country. However, if due to very exceptional reasons the gift cannot be declined,
it shall invariably be deposited in the Toshakhana. These instructions do not
apply to gifts and donations made to institutions.
5.
i. Cabinet Division will get the value of
the gifts assessed from Government Sector experts in FBR. Cabinet Division will
also get the value of gifts assessed by the private appraisers borne on its
approved panel.
ii.
If the difference in the value of gifts
assessed by two categories of appraisers is less than 25% the high value will
be accepted. However, if the difference in value is 25% or more, a Committee to
be constituted by the Cabinet Secretary shall decide the final value.
iii.
Private Appraisers borne on the approved
panel of the Cabinet Division will be paid 2% of the evaluation cost of each
gift or Rs.2000/-, whichever is less.
6.
The monetary limits upto which the gifts
can be retained by the recipients are as follows:
·
Gifts up to a value of Rs. 30,000/-(Rupees
thirty thousand only) may be retained free of cost by the recipient.
·
Gifts valued above Rs.30,000/- may
be allowed to be retained by the recipient on payment of 50% of the value
exceeding the basic exemption of Rs.30,000/-. This exemption shall however not
be available in the case of antiques and gifts of intrinsic historical value. All
such gifts shall be properly cataloged and displayed at the prominent
buildings owned by the Government. Different gift articles given by a single
dignitary to a functionary at one occasion will be treated as a single gift for
the purpose of valuation.
7.
The recipient should collect the gifts
after payment of the retention price within four months failing which it will
become the property of the Toshakhana and will be disposed off as per
Toshakhana Rules. The Head of Account of Toshakhana in which the amounts are to
be deposited is "1300000- Others (NES)Misc. Receipt of Darbar Presents (Central)".
8.
Gifts deposited in the Toshakhana which
are fit for display, shall be properly cataloged and then displayed in the
prominent buildings/institutions owned by the Government or in the official
residences of the Head of the State or the Head of the Government. Such
articles shall be properly entered in the Toshakhana register and in the stock
registers of the respective offices/institutions.
9.
An annual physical verification shall be
carried out in respect of such articles by an authorized officer of the Cabinet
Division in the first quarter of each calendar year.
10. Gifts that are not fit to be retained or displayed shall be disposed
off by periodical sales to be arranged by the Cabinet Division, Government of
Pakistan. These sales shall be held once or twice a year. The list of gifts to
be sold shall be circulated to all Federal Government officers and officers of
the Armed Forces. The articles not purchased in two consecutive auctions by the
Government servants should be disposed of to the public through sealed bids.
11. Antique items and vehicles shall not be allowed to be purchased by the
recipients. Antiques shall be placed in museums or displayed in official
buildings owned by the Government. Vehicles shall be given to the Central Pool
of Cars of the Cabinet Division.
12. Gifts, other than those in the nature of antiques or of intrinsic
historical value, given to but not retained by the President, the Head of the
Government, and the Governors, will be sold in accordance with sub-para (10)-above.
The gifts in the nature of antiques or of intrinsic historical value shall be
put on display in accordance with sub-para (8) above.
13. The procedure shall apply to the President/Head of the Government and
their family members, Chairman Senate, Speaker National Assembly, Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court, Governors of the Provinces, Members of the Federal
Cabinet, Attorney General for Pakistan, Ministers of State, Deputy Chairman
Senate, Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Dignitaries holding ministerial
status, Members of Provincial Cabinets, Judges of Supreme Court, Chief Justice/Judges
of the High Courts, Parliamentarians and other elected representatives, all
Government servants (Civil and Military) as well as employees of the Government
controlled corporations, autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies, and their spouse/dependents,
members of the Provincial Governments, other members of public visiting abroad
as members of the official delegation.
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