Zardari halts implementation of MPAs increased pay scale

KARACHI: Former President and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari has directed Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to defer an implementation of the proposed increment in salaries of the provincial legislators.

Taking a notice of recently approved revised pay scale, the former president noted that the 300 per cent rise in salaries of the provincial chief minister and MPAs would be a superfluous burden on the exchequer.

Zardari advised Shah to refrain from implementing the scheme in view of the unstable economic situation of the country.

On Saturday, Shah had approved a summary forwarded to him by the secretariat of the Sindh Assembly to increase salaries and perks of the provincial lawmakers including Sindh Assembly’s speaker and deputy speaker.

Later in the day, Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain confirmed that the implementation of salaries’ increment has been stopped in compliance of Zardari’s directives.