Tag: Gifts

  • Tofay hi tofay: What did Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi keep from the state gift list?

    Tofay hi tofay: What did Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi keep from the state gift list?

    An investigation by news organisation Fact Focus reveals that former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi kept all 112 presents worth Rs142.02 million from the Tosha Khana of Pakistan.

    The former PM and his wife Bushra Bibi have retained everything that was gifted to them by different states. The gifts include luxurious Rolex watches, gold and diamond jewellery, cufflinks worth millions, expensive dinner sets and perfumes. Not only that, they also kept a book worth Rs. 500, a tablemat, a samsonite bag and even a tasbih.

    The most expensive gift was a Graff watch worth Rs 85 million (Eight crore and fifty lac rupees), gifted to PM Khan by Saudi crown prince Muhammad Bin Salman when he visited Saudi Arabia on September 18, 2018. Instead of giving it the Tosha Khana, which is what every prime minister and his family is bound to do, Khan sold the watch in Dubai, according to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Khan also declared tax returns on the watch when filing his taxes in 2020-21. He apparently paid Rs. 20 million (2 crore), which was 20 percent of the estimated value, according to his tax returns.

    List of some of the gifts:

    • One pair of cufflinks worth Rs. 5,670,000.
    • Five Rolex watches
    • A table mat of Rs. 30,000
    • Wall hanging worth Rs. 15,000
    • One locket with chain (Gold+Diamond) worth Rs. 269,350
    • Carpet worth Rs. 22,000

    In his returns for the financial years 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21, Imran Khan did not mention any of the Tosha Khana presents that were kept. Bushra Bibi, Khan’s wife, did not file a tax return at this time. Bushra Bibi, in reality, has never submitted a tax return in her life and was just registered with the Pakistani tax authorities in July 2021.

    A few days ago, former information minister Fawad Chaudhry that, Kya jurm huva agar gharri baich di’, admitting that Khan had sold the gifts.

    DISCLAIMER: The pictures used are for pictorial representation only and do not represent what the actual items might have been.

    Other gifts include:

  • IHC questions govt’s reluctance over disclosing details of gifts presented to PM Khan

    IHC questions govt’s reluctance over disclosing details of gifts presented to PM Khan

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) questioned the government over its reluctant attitude to disclose details of the gifts presented to Prime Min­ister (PM) Imran Khan since his appointment in 2018, reports Dawn.

    Prior to this, the Pakistan Information Commission (PIC) had directed the Cabinet Division to “provide the requested information about the gifts received by PM Khan”.

    However, the Cabinet Division argued that the matter did not fall under the Right of Access to Information Act, 2017.

    “What is the harm in making it public if some country has given a necklace as a gift?” asked Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurangzeb. He said that gifts received by the rulers of a country belonged to the nation and not to them, asking whether public officeholders would even receive those gifts if the public office did not exist.

    Justice Aurangzeb asked: “Why doesn’t the government keep all the gifts in the museum? The government should make details of the gifts in the last 10 years public.”

    He also said that the Centre should inform how many gifts had their valuation done by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The government representative at the hearing requested time to respond, after which the court adjourned the hearing.

    Earlier in September, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry revealed that Arab rulers who presented gifts to PM Khan “did not want their names to be made public”.

    Tosha­khana is a department established in1974 that stores precious gifts given to the rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, and officials heads by the other governments and foreign dignitaries.

    According to Dawn, it has valuables ranging from bulletproof cars, gold-plated souvenirs, expensive paintings, watches, ornaments, rugs and swords.

  • ‘Arab rulers who presented gifts to PM Khan didn’t want their names to be made public’: Fawad

    Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry recently revealed that Arab rulers who presented gifts to the Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan “did not want their names to be made public”.

    While speaking on Geo News programme ‘Jirga’ with senior journalist Saleem Safi on Sunday, Fawad stated, “Previously, the heads of the government were allowed to take gifts after paying 15 per cent of the actual price.”

    “Vehicles were considered personal gifts, but former president Asif Ali Zardari changed the law for personal interest,” he added while criticising the past governments.

    Talking about the local elections in the country, the minister admitted that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s biggest failure was “not holding local body elections” in Pakistan. Moreover, he said that the local bodies, formed by former Chief Minister (CM) Shehbaz Sharif, were not effective and could not be restored on a technical basis.

    He added that PM insisted on having elections but members within the party, including Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar, didn’t agree to it.

    He further said that a review petition against the restoration of the local bodies is being heard in the Supreme Court (SC).

    Chaudhry said that the government has no personal rivalry with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) but the election body directly attacked the PM during the Senate polls.

    Furthermore, he revealed a total of 0.6 million Election Voting Machines (EVM) will be required for the upcoming general elections of 2023.

    Previously, the federal government denied giving out information about the exchange of gifts between the premier and other heads of state. They mentioned in a notice that the matter is reflective of inter-state relations and the disclosure of such information potentially damages the interest of Pakistan in the context of international relations.

  • Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma send gifts to paparazzi with a request

    Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma send gifts to paparazzi with a request

    Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, who welcomed their baby girl on Monday, have sent gifts to photographers along with a personalised note in which they requested them not to take pictures of their little one.

    According to photographer Viral Bhayani, Anushka and Virat sent a box of goodies which includes sweets, dry fruits and chocolates to him and his team. The gift box also included a message for the photographers, written in Hindi and English which read: “We want to protect the privacy of our child and we need your help and support.”

    “While we will always ensure that you get all the content you need us featuring us, we would request you to kindly not take or carry any content that has our child,” it added.

    Earlier, Anushka had slammed a photographer and publication for capturing and posting her Virat’s private moment.

    Taking to Instagram, Sharma had posted the picture taken by the photographer and wrote, “Despite requesting the said photographer and publication, they still continue to invade our privacy.”

    “Guys! Stop this right now,” she had added.

    Speaking to Vogue Magazine, Anushka had said that she wants to raise her child away from media attention as she does not want to “raise brats”.

    “We’ve thought about it a lot. We definitely do not want to raise a child in the public eye—we don’t plan on engaging our child in social media,” the actor had said. “I think it’s a decision your child should be able to take. No kid should be made to be more special than the other. It’s hard enough for adults to deal with it. It’s going to be difficult, but we intend to follow through.”

    Meanwhile, veteran Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon has praised the photographers for accepting and respecting the couple’s request, adding that the photographers had been very kind to her also when her children were younger.

  • PTI govt to auction gifts, including golden gun, Rs1.7 crores watch, Rs1.4 crores diamond set

    PTI govt to auction gifts, including golden gun, Rs1.7 crores watch, Rs1.4 crores diamond set

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is set to auction various items from the Toshakhana of the Cabinet Division.

    Toshakhana is a word of Persian origin that literally translates into “treasure-house”. In Mughal ruled India, Toshakhana was a place where princes stored gifts and emblems of honour that they received for their posterity, whereas in modern times, it is where gifts received from foreign dignitaries or countries are kept.

    The items being auctioned by the government range from an L.U. Chopard watch worth Rs17.5 million (Rs1 crore and 75 lacs) and a Rolex watch worth Rs3.5 million (35 lacs) to a Rs600,000 gold-coloured gun.

    A diamond set worth Rs14.827 million, which includes a necklace costing Rs8.3 million (83 lacs), earrings worth Rs966,900, a Rs382,300 ring and a Rs5.17 million (5.1 lacs) bangle, is also being auctioned.

    The items will be available only for the officers of the federal government and armed forces to bid on when the auction starts on November 4, a Cabinet Division notification said.

    TOSHAKHANA REFERENCE:

    Meanwhile, a corruption case involving the Toshakhana is also ongoing.

    The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has accused former president Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif of getting cars from ex-PM Yousaf Raza Gillani in an illegal way.

    While an accountability court has ordered to seize properties and assets, including cars and bank accounts, of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif in the said case, NAB says Zardari only paid 15 per cent cost of the said cars and that too through fake accounts.

    “Libya and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also gifted him [Zardari] cars when he was serving as the president,” a NAB prosecutor told the court last month, claiming that Zardari kept these cars for personal use instead of submitting them to the Toshakhana, which is must as per law.

  • Oscar nominees are getting gift bags worth $225,000. Here’s what’s inside

    Oscar nominees are getting gift bags worth $225,000. Here’s what’s inside

    While an Oscar nomination can open doors to bigger roles and a higher paycheque, this year it also comes with a cruise on a luxury yacht, cosmetic surgery, and personal matchmaking service in a gift bag worth more than $225,000.

    The gift bag, which is not affiliated with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will be sent to all 20 acting nominees and the five men nominated for best director, Distinctive Assets, the Los Angeles-based company behind the goodie bags revealed. Among those who will be receiving a gift bag include Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie, Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio and Scarlett Johansson.

    “It’s the highest value we’ve ever put together,” said Distinctive Assets founder Lash Fary, who has been assembling the bags for 18 years.

    This year’s top swag includes a $78,000, 12-day yacht cruise; $20,000 of facial rejuvenation treatments; and $20,000 in matchmaking services.

    The nearly 80 items also include clothing, gadgets and a 24-carat gold-plated vape pen that Fary said was selected with Leonardo DiCaprio in mind. Photos of DiCaprio vaping a few years ago helped popularise the trend.

    More than a dozen items have philanthropic elements, including a book that empowers young girls and a cleanser that supports showers for the homeless.

    Fary said the bags aren’t given based on need, but appreciation.

    “This is an acknowledgment of an amazing performance that they put in and, for many of them, a lifetime of amazing performances. So, you’re never too rich or famous to outgrow gratitude,” he said.

    Because Fary is not officially connected to the academy he’s allowed creative freedom with what’s included and its recipients.

    “I only give this to the top acting and directing nominees. So, because we’re only gifting about 25 people, that means I get the most insanely priced things,” he said.

    It’s also a chance for brands to be associated with high-profile celebrities.

    “This is a business endeavor. This is about the promotion. This is about products connecting their services and their wares with the biggest trendsetters in the world,” Fary said.

    Each bag is delivered directly to the nominees during the week leading up to the Oscars on Sunday.

    Here are some highlights from the goodybag, compiled from Insider:

    A 12-day trip for two on the world’s first ultra-luxury expedition yacht — the Scenic Eclipse

    According to Insider, the yacht takes 200 guests on a 12-day trip to Antarctica, where they can encounter penguins, kayak, and snowshoe. This trip is valued at $78,190 and the yacht includes eight restaurants, a submarine, two helicopters, and a “spa sanctuary.”

    Dinner for two at Flora’s Field Kitchen

    Located in Cabo, Mexico, the restaurant serves exclusively handmade, fresh food from its nearby 150-acre ranch.

    A “brain sensing headband” from Muse

    The Brain Sensing Headband is a “personal meditation assistant” that senses users’ mental activity and translates it to sounds of weather to guide breathing.

    A 24 karat gold Royal Chakra Bath Bomb from Hotsy Totsy Haus

    Each bath bomb dissolves to reveal a full moon charged amethyst crystal.

    A getaway for eight guests in an active Spanish lighthouse

    The Faro Cumplida is an active lighthouse that hosts up to eight guests in three private suites.

    Foot Spray

    Still Standing Unisex Foot Spray is made from three herbal remedies that contain anti-inflammatories and pain relievers to keep users’ feet comfortable for long periods of time — like awards season appearances.

  • Last minute ideas for Mother’s Day

    Last minute ideas for Mother’s Day

    Mother’s Day is this Sunday. While you don’t really need a day to appreciate your mother, it is that one day of the year when the whole world comes together to celebrate the blessing that is a mother. Some of you might have prepared in advance for what to give your Mom, but most of us are just sitting here and thinking “Damn, I thought I’d be better prepared this year.” But fear not, The Current has got your back. We’ve prepared an exciting list of things you can gift your Mom on this special day and put a smile on her face.

    Flowers

    Finding the perfect Mother’s Day gift can be tricky if you’re on a budget. In that case, how can you tell her how much she means to you without breaking the bank? Don’t stress yet! You can buy her a beautiful bouquet which will not only brighten up her room but her mood as well.

    Take her out for Iftari

    Our mothers are usually the ones who ensure that the table is laid out with our favourite food on aftar every day for. So how about you turn the tables around this time and take her out for a fancy aftari to her favourite restaurant? Tell her to dress up and wear her favourite lawn jora for this aftar date. This way you not only get her to relax for a few hours, but you also get to spend some quality time with her, minus the madness.

    Make Iftar for her

    Alternately, if your Mom is the sort of person who likes to stay at home, then its time to put on the apron and cook a meal for your Mom. And don’t forget to clean up the mess you make.

    Book her a massage

    Moms deserve a luxurious break given all the work they do for us. We all know she rarely treats herself, so do it for her. Book a massage for her and make her feel relaxed.

    In Lahore, our go-to place for a massage is Arammish, while in Islamabad we love Nirvana. In Karachi, Pengs has to be our favourite.

    Shopping Spree

    How often do Moms indulge in themselves? Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to get your Mom that jora she has been eyeing. It’ll be great given that Eid is also coming up.

    Turn
    on the TV

    Mother’s day does not have to be about spending money on gifts and dinners. You can also make her feel special by planning a movie night in and watching her favorite movie. Get some popcorn, snacks and drinks, and watch a movie at home.

    If you’re in the mood to watch something new together, check out our list of ‘Netflix shows to watch with your parents‘ or ‘Pakistani films to watch on YouTube with your family.‘

    Happy Mother’s Day to all the supermoms out there!