The government sold two 57-year-old antiques worth Rs 12 million from the Toshakhana through an open auction in violation of the procedures framed for acceptance and disposal of gifts, a private news channel reported on Tuesday.
According to the news channel, the Auditor General’s report for 2014-15 revealed that the management of Cabinet Division (Toshakhana) had sold an antique dagger and a sword at a total cost of Rs 12.143 million through an open auction on April 24, 2014.
The audit observed that the items were sold in violation of the procedures framed for acceptance and disposal of gifts.
It observed that auction of antiques against the procedure was irregular and unauthorised and recommended that the matter may be investigated and responsibility be fixed for irregular auction of antique items.
However, the management of Cabinet Division (Toshakhana) replied to the Auditor General that the evaluation committee for determination of the reserve price had cleared the sword and dagger.
The minutes of the meeting of the Toshakhana committee held on October 10, 2013, stated that the committee apprised that an antique dagger and sword were presented to the Governor General of Pakistan by the King of Saudi Arabia in 1956.
“They have been lying in Toshakhana since then and need to be disposed off.” These items are made of gold material studded with precious stones but due to their old and antique value are not fit for display anywhere, it added.
But the audit observed that there was no specific definition of antique mentioned in the procedure for acceptance or disposal of gifts, therefore the Cabinet Division (Toshakhana) had to mention the gift as antique or otherwise.
The audit report further observed that it could not understand that how items were not fit to place in museums or for display in official buildings after just 57 years.