SUNDAY TIMES ISLAMABAD: The minister desires that the Toshkhana may retain the items and the sale proceeds may be deposited in the national exchequer,” the letter penned by the foreign ministry read.
Qureshi was gifted precious items of worth rupees 6.3mn by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, in his visit to the Kingdom on September 19, last year.
The precious items gifted to the government officials in any foreign tour, always belong to the national exchequer and they cannot be kept in personal custody of any individual, Qureshi said in his statement.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf led federal government after coming into power, had decided in principle to put an end to budgetary allocation of around Rs516 million for gifts and entertainment.
The proposal to abolish the fund was floated during the recent cabinet meeting and the members decided in unison to stop the practice.
This allocation had been made by the previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government, which was later approved by parliament.