ISLAMABAD: After criticism of a proposed increase in the salaries of parliamentarians, the issue has been sent to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for approval, Dawn has learnt.

`The issue has been sent to the PM because being the chief executive, he can ask the finance ministry for a raise even if it`s not covered in the money bill,` a government insider said. The PM is now expected to consult the federal cabinet over the move.

The NA Finance Committee, headed by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, had recently approved a proposal for an increase in the monthly salary of MNAs and senators to Rs519,000.

Presently, they are getting Rs180,000 per month. Although a Rs1 million monthly salary was proposed, it was later reduced to Rs519,000.

Sources said that before the finance committee`s meeting, legislators from all mainstream parties met the speaker to ask for a raise and also presented a comparison between their and MPAs` salaries.