Chandigarh, December 9 – The UK Deputy High Commissioner to India, Ms. Alba Smeriglio, called on Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini at his residence on Tuesday. During the meeting, important discussions were held regarding leading British universities opening their campuses in Haryana. This initiative will create new opportunities for world-class education, advanced skills and employment for the youth of the state.

Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, India is steadily moving towards self-reliance and is on course to become a developed nation by the year 2047. In this journey, artificial intelligence and education will play a crucial role. Advancing towards this vision, the Haryana Government is continuously working to make Haryana a global education hub and is making concerted efforts to facilitate the establishment of campuses of foreign universities in the state. The entry of British universities into Haryana will give a new dimension to the state’s international academic identity.

On this occasion, Ms. Alba Smeriglio appreciated the initiatives being undertaken by the Haryana Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini and expressed her commitment to working together on various projects in the future.

The meeting also included detailed discussions on the demand for skilled labour in the United Kingdom and the employment and career opportunities available for youth from Haryana. Both sides agreed to enhance coordination and undertake joint initiatives for training and selection of young professionals.

In addition, investment possibilities in key sectors such as automobiles, aviation, agriculture and defence equipment were also deliberated upon. The Chief Minister apprised the UK delegation of Haryana’s policies, industrial infrastructure and the state’s excellent investment climate, and invited British investors to invest in Haryana.

The meeting was organised by Haryana’s Department of Foreign Cooperation, during which extensive discussions were held to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Sh. Arun Kumar Gupta, Commissioner and Secretary, Department of Foreign Cooperation, Amneet P. Kumar, and Advisor, Department of Foreign Cooperation, Sh. Pawan Choudhary were also present on the occasion.

Chandigarh, December 9 – A meeting of the High-Powered Works Purchase Committee (Urban Local Bodies), chaired by Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, was held on Tuesday, during which 22 agenda items of the Urban Local Bodies Department were placed before the Committee. Of these, 18 works worth more than Rs 157 crore were approved. Savings of approximately Rs 7.91 crore were achieved during the meeting.

Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini approved works worth Rs 13.70 crore for door-to-door garbage collection and maintaining cleanliness in 11 municipalities and municipal councils. These include works in Panipat for cleaning sewer lines using the latest technology and improving blocked pipelines. In addition, approval was granted for works related to proper disposal of waste and strengthening sanitation systems under Solid Waste Management in several municipalities including Siwani, Hisar and Barwala.

During the meeting, works were also allotted to streamline and strengthen sanitation systems in the municipal corporations, municipalities and municipal councils of Bawal, Palwal, Hansi, Jind, Sohna, Pataudi, Jhajjar, Hodal, Gurugram, Bandhwari and Rohtak.

The Chief Minister directed that complete cleanliness be ensured in all urban local bodies and that officers regularly monitor the works. He said that all vendors must use e-rickshaws, tractors, dumpers and other resources strictly as per prescribed standards and ensure that there is no negligence in door-to-door garbage collection. He emphasized regular segregation of household waste followed by proper disposal. Commendation certificates will be awarded to those doing good work, while strict action will be taken against vendors who fail to perform their duties properly.

The meeting was attended by Urban Local Bodies Minister Sh. Vipul Goel, Public Works Minister Sh. Ranbir Gangwa, Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sh. Arun Kumar Gupta, Director General of the Urban Local Bodies Department Sh. Ashok Meena, Commissioner and Secretary, Public Health Engineering Department, Mohammed Shayin, along with senior officers of the Urban Local Bodies Department.

CHANDIGARH, December 9:

          Amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police on Tuesday carried out a special operation ‘OPS Seal-XXIII’ aimed at checking all the vehicles entering or exiting the border state of Punjab to keep vigil around anti-social elements, drug traffickers and bootleggers.

          During the operation, conducted simultaneously in all the districts on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, all the SSPs of border districts were directed to organise joint Naka operations at strategic places in their respective districts and mobilise a maximum number of manpower to lay strong ‘nakas’ at sealing points under the supervision of Gazetted officers/SHOs.

          Sharing details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla said that well-coordinated strong nakas involving over 600 Police Personnel were set up under the supervision of Inspectors/DSPs at least 65 entry/exit points of 10 districts, which share boundaries with four border states and UT Chandigarh. The 10 inter-state border districts include Pathankot, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka, Rupanagar, SAS Nagar, Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Hoshiarpur and Bathinda.

          He said that as many as 1182 vehicles entering/exiting the state were checked, of which 234 were challaned and two were impounded during the operation. Police teams have also registered five FIRs and arrested three persons during the operation.

          Apart from this, Police teams have continued its cordon and search operation (CASO) against drugs on Day 283, and conducted raids at 346 locations on Tuesday leading to the arrest of 95 drug smugglers after registration of 68 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 39,864 within 283 days.

          The Special DGP said that the raids have resulted in recovery of 1.5 kg heroin, 429 grams opium, 6 kg ganja, 21 kg poppy husk and Rs 2.95 lakhs drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.

          He informed that over 120 Police teams, comprising over 1000 police personnel, under the supervision of 70 gazetted officers have conducted raids across the state and checked as many as 340 suspicious persons during the day long operation.

          The Special DGP said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced 40 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

Chandigarh, December 9:

High-Impact Investment Road show by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, on concluding day of his South Korea visit saw massive participation by leading industrial giants, who evinced their keen interest in investing in the state.

Addressing the galaxy of business leaders, the Chief Minister highlighted Punjab’s transformation into a stable, transparent, and future-ready investment destination. He said that Punjab’s robust industrial ecosystem, reliable and cost-competitive power, peaceful labour relations, a talented, resilient and hardworking workforce, coupled with seamless connectivity to major markets makes it a most preferable investment destination. Bhagwant Singh Mann reiterated that Punjab’s governance model places the investor at the centre, ensuring predictability, efficiency, and full support throughout the business lifecycle.

The Chief Minister emphasized Punjab’s vision to build technology-driven, innovation-led, and mutually beneficial partnerships with South Korea across priority sectors. He reinforced the commitment of the Punjab government to welcome South Korean companies, promoting innovation-led industrial development, and building long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that there is a huge scope for collaboration in varied sectors like manufacturing, technology, food processing, and research.

Sharing his vision, the Chief Minister said that the state government is committed to build a future of shared prosperity through strong economic and cultural ties. He said that Punjab is a land known for courage, resilience, hard work, entrepreneurship, creativity, and a strong sense of community adding that the state has always played a major role in India’s development especially in making the country self-reliant in food production. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that today Punjab is moving forward with a renewed vision to become a leading centre for modern industry, technology, and global collaboration.

The Chief Minister also showcased the state’s governance and regulatory reforms, including the FastTrack Punjab single-window system offering 173 services, auto-deemed approvals, PAN-based business identifiers, and amendments to the Punjab Right to Business Act enabling time-bound in-principle approvals. He also highlighted Punjab’s industrial infrastructure adding that over Rs 1.4 lakh crore of on ground investments which have already been facilitated through Invest Punjab. Meanwhile, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that his vision is simple and clear to make Punjab a preferred destination for global industry by offering stability in policy, speed in decision-making, and a governance system that respects the time and trust of investors.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab’s approach is based on partnership and working closely with industry, by understanding their needs and ensure that the government acts as a catalyst of growth. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab has strengthened its infrastructure, expanded its industrial capacity and opened new avenues for investment. He said that partnership between government and industry is key to success and the state government firmly believes that industrial growth can only be achieved when we work as equal partners.

The Chief Minister called upon the investors to join the state at the 6th Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit scheduled from 13–15 March 2026 at the ISB Mohali campus. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the summit will showcase Punjab’s progress, bring together leading industrial players, and present new opportunities for partnership and collaboration. He reiterated that the Punjab Government is fully dedicated to further giving fillip to the industrial development in the state for which no stone will be left unturned.

Meanwhile, buoyed over the red carpet extended by the Chief Minister, the South Korean companies evinced keen interest in investing in the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann envisioned that such investments will not only create employment opportunities for the youth but will also further accelerate the state’s economic growth. He also assured fulsome support and cooperation to the South Korean investors by the state government on all the fronts adding that it is the need of the hour to give further impetus to industrial development in the state.

The Chief Minister said that this high-impact Investment Road show in Seoul as part of its international outreach to forge deeper economic partnerships with South Korea and attract high-quality investments into the state. He said that the event witnessed strong participation from corporate leaders, financial advisors, R&D organizations, trade associations, and members of the Indian and Punjabi Diaspora in Korea. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the road show attracted senior representatives from a wide range of Korean and international organizations, including Bloomberg, BRICS India Trade Pvt. Ltd., leading legal firms Kim & Chang and Shin & Kim LLC, the Korean Association of Senior Scientists and Engineers, KOTRA, Daeyoung Corp., Gawon International Co. Ltd, TagHive, the Punjabi Association of Korea, Inmac Global, among others.

The Chief Minister said that their participation demonstrated strong institutional interest in exploring business opportunities, partnerships, and deeper engagement with Punjab. Assuring them of full facilitation and a supportive business ecosystem, he extended a warm invitation to Korean industry leaders to participate in the Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit 2026. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Seoul Roadshow marked an important milestone in Punjab’s international outreach and strengthened the state’s position as a trusted, future-ready destination for global investors.

CHANDIGARH/SAS NAGAR, December 9:

          Marking a transformative leap in tertiary healthcare, the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government has scripted history with the successful conduct of the first liver transplant surgery at a state-run institute Punjab Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (PILBS) in Mohali.

          Presenting the successfully operated patient to the media on Tuesday, Punjab Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education and Research Minister Dr Balbir Singh, stated that this is the first time in Punjab’s medical history that such a delicate and complex surgery has been accomplished successfully in a government institute. The Minister was accompanied by Principal Secretary Health Kumar Rahul.

          He highlighted that this lifesaving intervention was provided to the patient at approximately Rs 12 lakhs, which costs around Rs 45-50 lakhs at the private hospitals. The transplant was performed on November 27, 2025, and the recipient is recovering well, expected to be discharged in a day or two, he added.

          Congratulating the medical team led by Director of PILBS and Professor & Head of Hepatology Dr Virendra Singh and Professor & Head of Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery Dr K Rajasekhar, the Health Minister termed this a major milestone for the institute.

          Dr Balbir Singh also expressed profound gratitude to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, for providing the organ from a brain-dead person from Haryana. He also extended heartfelt thanks to the donor’s family for their exemplary act of organ donation, which has given a new lease of life to multiple individuals.

          He said that the PILBS continues to expand its role as Punjab’s first dedicated liver and biliary sciences centre, offering comprehensive care, advanced procedures, and 24×7 emergency and ICU services. An upcoming 175-bedded patient care block is also in the pipeline, further expanding the Institute’s capacity and services, he added.

          He said that the newly built Diagnostic Block is now operational with the installation of a Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) machine. The supply order for new CT scanner has already been placed, while, the tender process for a new MRI is in progress, and a new automated biochemistry analyser will be fully functional within one week. A state-of-the-art blood bank has also been established, which will be one of the most advanced in Punjab.

 The Institute remains committed to becoming a world-class centre for clinical excellence, research, and training in hepatobiliary sciences.

          The Minister emphasised that the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann led Government is systematically equipping all Government Medical Colleges with secondary and tertiary care facilities, including existing neuro and cardio labs.

          He announced that Government Medical College, Patiala, is set to become the first state-run facility to offer renal transplantation by the coming year, he said, while adding that furthermore, all government medical colleges will soon be established as organ receiving centres.

          Appealing to the public to pledge for organ donation, Dr Balbir Singh noted that Punjab, currently ranked 9th nationally with 20,000 registered donors, is poised to be among the top states in the country soon.

          Reiterating the government’s commitment to free treatment for all, the Health Minister said that Punjab Government has finalised the agencies for implementing the Rs 10 lakh cashless treatment under Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojna and it will be formally launched across the state in January 2026.

Chandigarh, December 8:

With a view to give impetus to the conservation, development and enhancement of existing forest & tree cover in the State under Greening Punjab Mission, the Forest and Wildlife Preservation Department led by the Minister in charge Lal Chand Kataruchak, is sparing no efforts. The department has carried out plantation of saplings under various schemes throughout the State as part of its endeavour to expand green cover in Punjab.

As many as 12,55,700 saplings have been planted under multiple novel initiatives. These include 3,31,000 saplings planted under urban forestry including plantation on institutional land and under Agro Forestry (Single row plantations in farmers fields adjoining link roads), 2,50,000 Poplar/Drek and 3,00,000 Eucalyptus trees. Furthermore, 20,800 plantations have been carried out as part of developing Pavittar Van with barbed wire as well as developing Nanak Bagichis with barbed wire. Besides, 46,500 saplings stand planted at industrial undertakings while the Schools have seen plantations up to 1,44,500. Apart from this, 1,62,900 Tall Plants have also been planted.

The objective of the plantations is the creation of green cover by planting maximum possible number of saplings on all available lands in the State, To raise nurseries, Generating awareness among the public regarding the initiatives of State Government to increase forest cover,, Making necessary arrangements for protection of plantations, Setting Up and maintenance of forest awareness parks in State & carrying out Forestry research as well as training activities.

CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, December 8:

          Amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Amritsar Commissionerate Police has dismantled a Pakistan-operated cross-border arms smuggling module with the arrest of its six operatives, including one juvenile, and recovered six sophisticated pistols from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Monday.

          Those arrested have been identified as Gurbir Singh alias Sonu (28), a resident of village Kotli Vasava Singh in Tarn Taran; Gurpreet Singh alias Gopa (32), Gorka Singh alias Gora, Rajwinder Singh alias Raju— trio residents of Khem Karan in Tarn Taran; Jaspal Singh alias Jass (24), a resident of Bachiwind in Amritsar and Sultanpur Lodhi based 16-years-old Juvenile. The recovered pistols include five .30 bore pistols and one 9mm PX5 pistol.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused persons were in direct contact with a Pak-based handler through social media platforms, who were sharing coordinates to retrieve and further supply of weapon consignments. The organised gang had been supplying these weapon consignments to criminals operating in the Majha and Doaba regions to carry out nefarious activities, he said.

          The DGP said that further investigation is in progress to establish network’s backward and forward linkages and to identify receivers and financial channels in this case.

          Sharing operational details, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that the first breakthrough came when a police team, in an intelligence led operation, arrested suspects Gurbir alias Sonu and Gurpreet alias Gopa and recovered two .30 bore pistols.

          Their interrogation opened up the entire network, he said, while adding that follow-up raids led to the arrest of their associates Gorka alias Gora with one .30 bore pistol, Jaspal alias Jass with one .30 bore pistol and Rajwinder alias Raju with one 9MM PX5 pistol. A juvenile associate was also detained with one .30 bore pistol, he added.

          The CP said that arrested persons Gorka alias Gora and Rajwinder alias Raju have previous criminal cases registered against them, including NDPS Act offences and charges related to rape and the POCSO Act.

          Two accomplices from Kapurthala district have been identified as receivers of illegal weapons, he said, while adding that raids are being conducted to nab them.

          In this regard, a case FIR No. 260 dated 30-11-2025 has been registered under sections 25(6,7,8) of the Arms Act at Police Station Cantonment Amritsar.

CHANDIGARH, December 8:

          Continuing the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state consecutively for the 282nd day, Punjab Police conducted raids at 298 locations on Monday leading to the arrest of 89 drug smugglers after registration of 70 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 39,711 in 282 days.

          The raids have resulted in recovery of 6.7 kg heroin, 350 grams opium, 2382 intoxicant pills and Rs 5080 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.

          Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.

          Over 100 Police teams, comprising over 900 police personnel, under the supervision of 63 gazetted officers have conducted 298 raids across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 311 suspicious persons during the day-long operation.

          The state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced 27 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.