Among the members of the Parliament she owns over nine kilos of the yellow metal which has a market value of millions of rupees. No other MP owns such a substantial quantity, as per their declarations of assets and liabilities filed with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Dr Firdous notified in her statement, appearing in the official gazette, that she has 755 tolas of gold. On conversion, it came to 9,060 grams or 9.060 kilograms, to be precise. She declared that the original cost of her gold was Rs1.28m that was shown to have appreciated to Rs28.6m when she filed the statement.
However, its present value comes to Rs37.75m at the rate of the prevailing price of Rs50000 per tola. It is not mentioned in her statement as to when she purchased this amount of dense shiny metal. However, the calculation shows that she bought the gold at the rate of just Rs1695.36 per tola long time ago. Apparently, the minister made the investment in gold when it was relatively cheap, envisaging its price would shoot up.
The total value of her assets comes to Rs68m as per her declaration. These include agriculture land, houses and properties valued at Rs22.5m. She also has Rs11.3m as cash in hand and balance in bank. Besides, she has made advance payment of Rs4.94m for plots (unspecified number) and has a Honda car amounting to Rs1.3m and furniture, fittings and articles of personal use of Rs700,000.
Former minister of state for information Samsam Bokhari stands on number two, after Dr Firdous Ashiq, in having the heaviest quantity of gold. He possesses 500 tolas or 6000 grams or six kilograms, to be exact.
Bokhari put the original total worth of his gold at Rs12m and declared that it was Rs20m at the time of filing the statement. However, its prevailing value comes to Rs25m at the rate of Rs50000 per tola. The calculation showed that he had purchased the gold at the rate of Rs24000 per tola.
Apart from having a huge quantity of gold in the name of his wife, Bokhari is a wealthy man with his assets valued at over Rs250m. He has a house in Lahore amounting to Rs50m, land in Okara valuing Rs110m, land in Chunian worth Rs30m, land in Shakargarh costing Rs10m and other assets of Rs50m.
Samina Khalid Ghurki, now federal minister without portfolio, too owns a large quantity of gold, 465 tolas or 5580 grams or 5.58 kilograms to be precise. She did not mention its value in her declaration.
She has in her possession prize bonds of Rs10m apart from furniture, fittings and items of personal use valuing Rs3.8m and bank balance of Rs195000. Other assets are in the name of her husband, who recently died.
Bilal Virk owns 400 tolas or 4800 grams or 4.8 kilograms of gold, which, according to his declaration, is valued at Rs10m.
However, its present value is Rs20m at the rate of Rs50000 per tola. He has inherited agriculture land, house, petrol pump and shop valuing Rs110m, Musa Farm amounting to Rs15m, half share in business of Rs20m, cash and bank balance of over Rs25 and vehicles of Rs9m. These three members of the National Assembly possess the heaviest quantity of gold.
