KARACHI – PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari prevented the Sindh government from going ahead with a proposed raise in salaries of lawmakers. The former president took notice of this matter as a 300 per cent increase in the salaries of MPAs and provincial ministers. Zardari directed Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah that under the present financial situation, the rise in salaries would add an extra burden to an already cash stripped national treasury. Provincial minister Nasir Hussain Shah said that the decision on any increase in salaries will be reviewed again especially after the notice was taken up by the PPP co-chairman. The chief minister had approved a summary on October 15th, which proposed an increase in the salaries and privileges of provincial lawmakers including a hefty increase in his own salary. According to the proposed law there was to be an increase of around 150 per cent in the salaries of the cabinet members, advisers and special assistants. The salaries of the chief minister, speaker and deputy speaker were already supposed to be increased to an astonishing 300 per cent.