QUETTA: The Balochistan government announced on Thursday an increase in salaries and incentives of the chief minister, provincial ministers and speaker, deputy speaker and members of the provincial assembly.

Minister for Information Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal announced this at a press conference after a meeting of the cabinet held with Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch in the chair.

However, Mr Ziaratwal refused to give details of the increase in the salary and incentives for which a bill would be tabled in the provincial assembly.

“The existing salary of the chief minister is Rs30,000 only and of ministers and MPAs Rs20,000 per month,” he said, adding that the decision would help discourage corruption.

The cabinet approved several bills and projects and took other decisions. The approved bills included Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2014; Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University (Amendment) Bill, and Bill for Upgrading Bolan Medical College Quetta to Bolan Medical University of Health and Medical Sciences.

The cabinet decided to take steps for further legislation on Land Reform Act and Resolution, 1962 and 1977.