IEP SAS Nagar (Mohali), February 23

Rolling a red carpet for the Bussiness tycoons to join family of three crore Punjabis, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann gave a clarion call to them for becoming partners of the socio economic growth in the state.

The Chief Minister, while addressing the Bussiness tycoons here during the inaugural session of the fifth Progressive Punjab Investors Summit, welcomed them to land of saints, seers and martyrs adding that he was elated to have eminent personalities amongst us today. He said that Punjab is most favourable investment destination across the country and no stone will be left unturned to facilitate them. Bhagwant Mann envisioned a strong association between the state government and industrialists to make Punjab an industrial hub in the country.

The Chief Minister said that in order to facilitate the investors for making investments in the state, his government will soon abolish the Change of Land Use (CLU) and NOC that had haunted the industries in earlier times. Welcoming key industrialists m, he said that merely within one year of assuming responsibility as a CM, his first and foremost task has been to get a first-hand knowledge of the problems, of the complexities faced by the people. Bhagwant Mann said that his government’s vision and ambition is to continue to evolve to keep pace with changing expectations and new challenges.

The Chief Minister while striking emotional chord with entrepreneurs said that they are source of opportunities that the youth of Punjab and India wants to avail. He said that no matter if we are working in the public, private or non-profit sectors, each of us has a role to fulfill if we are to achieve our hopes and fulfill our aspirations and responsibilities to our country, our society, our families and to ourselves. Bhagwant Mann Summit is not about MOUs but about knowledge sharing, about brainstorming, about learning from each other.

The Chief Minister asserted that they have chosen a path to make the future of the country bright by accelerating economic growth in stage. Bhagwant Mann said that he has seen that aspiring young generation of Punjab wants to do something big in life. He said that his government is fully convinced that God has bestowed him this opportunity to lead Punjab for bringing qualitative changes in the lives of people.

The Chief Minister said that he can’t discharge this responsibility without active support and collaboration of the people. Bhagwant Mann said that he has a committed team which wants to stimulate healthy economic growth with support of people. He said that his government has introduced several policies and initiatives to support businesses and investors.

The Chief Minister expressed hope that new Industrial and Business Development Policy 2022 unveiled today will accelerate the desired economic growth. Bhagwant Mann said that policy aims to attract huge investment and generate  maximum employment in the coming five years. He said that policy provides competitive incentives to all segments of investments including expansions and new MSMEs, Large Units, Export Promotion, Start-Ups of service and manufacturing both.

The Chief Minister envisioned that this policy will provide a roadmap for infrastructure development, such as industrial parks, airports, and ports, which will further facilitate the movement of goods and people and enhance the state’s connectivity to global markets. Bhagwant Mann said that the state Government is developing Integrated Industrial Township adding that it taken a major decision to build 20 Rural Industrial Clusters and 15 industrial parks. Bhagwant Mann further said that in a major step towards sustainability, Punjab’s EV Policy was also unveiled today.

The Chief Minister said that the state is now on a threshold of transition to a new culture of innovation and technology driven enterprise. Bhagwant Mann said that the youth of state are making new innovations and we need to support them. Bhagwant Mann said that Best Class infrastructure, excellent connectivity, premium educational institutes coupled with conducive government policies add to the strength of the State

IEP Chandigarh February 23

          The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its anti-corruption campaign on Thursday, nabbed an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Baldev Raj, Incharge police post Dialgarh, in Batala police district for taking a bribe of Rs 5,000.

          Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the VB said the above said police official has been arrested on the complainant of Gurpreet Kaur, resident of Mehta, Gurdaspur district.

          Giving details he added that the complainant lady has approached the VB and alleged that the above said police official has demanded Rs 10,000 as a bribe to record witness statement in her favour in the court as a police case had already lodged against her.

          The spokesperson informed that a VB team has laid a trap and the accused police official has been arrested on the spot while taking a bribe of Rs 5,000 as a first instalment from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses.

          In this regard a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against the accused ASI at VB police station Amritsar. Further investigation in this case was under progress.

IEP Chandigarh, February 23

          Aiming to curb the menace of corruption in the state, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Thursday nabbed a Kanugo Vijay Pal, posted in revenue block Jamalpura, Malerkotla district red handed for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 50,000.

          Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of VB said the above said Kanugo, a resident of village Bharthala Mander, in Malerkotla was arrested on the complaint of Karamjit Singh, of village Bhaini Kalan, tehsil Amargarh, Malerkotla.

          Giving more details he informed that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged that the above said Kanugo has been demanding a bribe of Rs. 2 lakh for clearing a file pertaining to award of compensation of his land acquired for construction of National Expressway.

          After verifying this complaint, a VB team from economic offences wing of Ludhiana range laid a trap and the accused Kanugo has been arrested on the spot accepting a bribe of Rs. 50,000 as first instalment and tainted money was recovered from him in the presence of two official witnesses.

          He informed that a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against the accused revenue official at VB police Ludhiana and further investigation was under progress.

IEP SAS Nagar (Mohali), February 23

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday kicked off the Fifth edition of progressive Punjab summit by inaugurating a hi-tech exhibition here at the Indian school of Business.

In the exhibition a number of leading companies from across the globe had showcased their products. The Chief Minister went to each stall and had detailed information about the products of the various companies. Bhagwant Mann said that this a historic moment as the leading companies of the world is presenting their achievements.

The Chief Minister said that these companies have already proved their mettle across the globe in this field. He said that Punjab welcomes these entrepreneurs on the occasion and hope that with their cooperation state will soon give major push to industrial growth. Bhagwant Mann assured fulsome support and cooperation to all the industrialists for their every venture.

The Chief Minister expressed hope that the day is not far when state will soon emerge as industrial hub of the country.  Meanwhile, he also thanked leading companies including HMEL Bathinda, ITC, Palaksha University, ESR Lopistics Pvt. Ltd., Hindustan Unilever Limited, International Tractors limited, Tynor Orthotics Pvt. Ltd, Savi Exports, Sanathan Polyoot Private Limited, Trident Group, UK High Commissioner Office, Hartek Power, Masters Creation, Gilard Electronics Pvt. Ltd, Avon Cycles Ltd, M/s Raja Fat & Feeds Pvt. Ltd, IIT Ropar,, Technology Business Incubation Foundation, Nanokriti Pvt. Ltd, Edith Healthcare, Dakters Software Startup Punjab, M/s Black Eye Technologies Pvt. Ltd, Agnext

B.G. INnovatech, Holokitab Technologies, Vishwaaz AI Pvt. LTD, Breww Therapeutics Private Limited, Kielde Private Limited, Cyberhawks Intelligence Services, LLP Lowcal Ventures Pvt. Ltd, NIRVIGHNA SERVICES PVT LTD, KCSAD LIGHTS (INDIA) PVT. LTD, JK Papers, Nestle India Ltd and others who have took part in the exhibition.

On the occasion various Cabinet Ministers, MLAs and senior officers of Punjab government were also present.

IEP Chandigarh, February 24

          Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Thursday took note against not allowing students to sit in ensuing exams of classes 5th, 8th, 10th and 12th by Punjab School Education Board due to some fee issues. These exams to be conducted for the said classss in February/March-2023.

The Education Minister has also written to the Punjab School Education Board’s Chairman to take immediate action to save the precious time of students in view of their future.

Pointing out further, the Minister said some of the students brought to his notice that they had already deposited their fee with the schools, which further not credited the same in the account of Board or deposited lesser than the actual fee. He said these students had expressed that there was not their fault anyway in this discrepancy.

The Education Minister said that it was a big lapse for which students should not to be suffered.

IEP CHANDIGARH, February 23

          To further strengthen the ongoing drive to make Punjab a drug-free and crime-free state as per the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Thursday, assured total support to DGP Himachal Pradesh Sanjay Kundu to combat organised inter-state crime including smuggling of drugs and illicit liquor via Punjab-Himachal Pradesh Border.

          Police Chiefs of both the states were holding a coordination meeting at Punjab Police Headquarters to ensure better synergy and coordination between the two Police Forces.

          Giving a call for total synergy and teamwork between Punjab Police and Himachal Pradesh Police, DGP Gaurav Yadav said that both the Police forces should work as one team and activate the basic Policing and sharing real time information by the use of latest technology to keep the region safe and secure.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that Himachal Pradesh Police and Punjab Police will work together on joint operations at Punjab and Himachal Pradesh Border to keep vigil on gangsters and criminals, who have been operating in these states. It has also been decided to strengthen Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at the entry/exit points at Border to prevent smuggling of drugs and illicit liquor, he added.

          He also proposed to organise frequent meetings between District Police Chiefs and SSPs of both the neighbouring states to discuss activities of the gangsters and criminal gangs operating in the region as so many of the issues and crime patterns are similar and inter-related.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that Punjab Police is committed to ensure better synergy between both the Police forces to make Punjab a crime-free state as per the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

          Meanwhile, DGP Himachal Pradesh Sanjay Kundu has assured fulsome support to the Punjab Police and said that it was decided to work in close coordination to give a “knock-out-punch” to the organised inter-State crime.