Category Archives: Punjab

Chandigarh, Punjab

CM ANNOUNCES TO CONSTITUTE ‘ROAD SAFETY FORCE’ FOR SAVING PRECIOUS LIVES OF PEOPLE IN ROAD ACCIDENTS

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IEP Chandigarh

Expressing concern over the fatalities due to road accidents in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday announced to constitute dedicated ‘Road Safety Force’ to streamline the movement of traffic on the roads of the state.

Addressing the gathering after dedicating Regional Driving Training centre to the state here today, the Chief Minister said that daily around 14 precious lives are lost in road accidents in Punjab. He said that this causality can be checked by manning the roads well for which ‘Road Safety Force’ will be formed in Punjab Police. Bhagwant Mann said that this force will be entrusted with the task of checking rash driving, streamlining vehicular movement on roads and others to check the road accidents adding that it will reduce the burden on cops deployed in Police stations.

The Chief Minister said that this is an ultra modern centre equipped with hi-tech technology adding that this centre will give major relief to people aspiring to get heavy license thereby saving their time, money and energy. He said that the foreign countries lay major thrust on preventing accidents on their roads. Bhagwant Mann said that in the countries abroad any resident has to give written and practical exams for getting the license.

The Chief Minister envisioned that like abroad, these centres will play a pivotal role in sensitizing the drivers to drive their vehicles safely on roads. Exhorting the people to imbibe basic traits of discipline, patience and obedience while driving their vehicle, he said that social behavior on roads must be disciplined for every individual in the larger interest of society. Bhagwant Mann said that his government is making all out efforts to remove the blind spots on the roads of the state to avert casualties on roads. 

The Chief Minister unequivocally said that service of the state and its people are the top priorities of his government. Bhagwant Mann said that he is votary of morality in politics and taking even a single rupee from the public is equal to consuming poison for him. Bhagwant Mann said that honest, transparent and responsive government is the hallmark of his government.

Training his guns against the opposition parties, the Chief Minister said that as people have stopped hugging them for their misdeeds so now they are embracing each other by forgetting their ideological commitments. He said that these shameless people had mercilessly plundered the wealth of the state due to which people have ousted them from power. Bhagwant Mann said that these leaders will be made accountable for their sins and every penny will be recovered from them.

Taking the successive state governments to cudgels, the Chief Minister said that these corrupt people ignored the interests of the state for their vested political interests. He said that these politicians established their monopoly over the health, education, transport and other sectors by ruining the government institutions. Bhagwant Mann said that these leaders were so greedy that they didn’t even spare the food joints which were attracting huge crowds and tried to get a share in them too.

The Chief Minister reiterated the firm commitment of his government to safeguard the interests of the state and its people. Bhagwant Mann reiterated that Panjab University belongs to the state and no one will be allowed to change its basic structure by allowing entry of any other state in it. He also said that while Badals had given NOC for converting this apex institute into a Central University, his government will vehemently oppose any such anti-Punjab decision. 

The Chief Minister said that the state government will ensure uninterrupted and regular power supply to the farmers for ensuing paddy cultivation. He said that the state government has already made elaborate arrangements in this regard and there is no shortage of power in the state. Bhagwant Mann said that the state is already having coal stock of 52 days so power will be supplied in an uninterrupted manner to the food growers.

The Chief Minister for the first time in the history of the state, the Punjab government will put a tender for purchasing Goindwal Thermal Power plant. He said that this is unprecedented as for maiden time the state government will bid to buy a private plant. Bhagwant Mann said that the state has enough supply of coal through which this plant can be run efficiently.

The Chief Minister also said that three departments are being clubbed in the state to ensure optimum utilization of canal water. He said that at present only 30% of canal water is being used for irrigation but with this decision by next year 70% canal water for irrigation purposes. Bhagwant Mann said that this will help in checking the depletion of groundwater in the state.

Highlighting the significance of Sarkar Tuhaade Dwaar, the Chief Minister said that it was a flagship program of his government for the progress of the state and prosperity of its people. He said that this program finds no parallel across the country as no other state government bothers to spare so much time for the people by solving their problems at their doorsteps. Bhagwant Mann said that this program helps in quick resolution of public problems on one hand besides judging the performance of the government officers/officials on the other.

The Chief Minister said that this pro-people initiative, stipulates that Cabinet Ministers and the officers especially the Deputy Commissioners and Additional Deputy Commissioners maximize their field visits, especially in villages, and interact with the people by going to villages. He said that it is the need of the hour to facilitate the people in getting their day-to-day works done easily besides ensuring good governance to them. Bhagwant Mann said that this will help in better functioning of the offices along with better acquaintance with the ground realities.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also announced the construction of a new byepass in Amargarh at a cost of Rs 45 crore.

On the occasion Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar and others were also present.

Punjab

Punjab govt to make policy against exploitation of women in abroad: Dr. Baljit Kaur

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IEP Chandigarh, June 5

          Send the women of Punjab to foreign countries that the exploitation of them is being taken seriously by the state Government.  In this regard, the state Government is holding a discussion with the victims under the chairmanship of Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur on June 11 in Jalandhar to draw up a state-level policy to prevent the exploitation of women.

           Giving more information, the Minister of Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to protect the rights of women of Punjab who are willing to go abroad, have settled there or have returned.  Special attention is being given by the Punjab Government.

           She said that some agents are giving fake jobs and falsely sending the women of the state to foreign countries illegally. By making statements, they are exploited in various ways.  Efforts are being made by the Punjab Government to prepare a state level policy to overcome this situation.  She said that to listen to the tragedies of women who have suffered all kinds of exploitation in this policy and to include their suggestions in the policy, a discussion is being organized on June 11 at the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Jalandhar from 11 AM to 1 PM.

           The minister explained that incidents of exploitation of women are reported especially from America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Middle Eastern countries like Kuwait, Dubai, Oman etc.  She said that such bad behavior has been taken seriously by the state Government.

           The minister said that women who have been duped by NRI persons/agents/relatives have been given an open invitation to join this discussion.  She said that various Deputy Commissioners of the state have also written letters to such women from their districts, who have been victims of exploitation abroad, to participate in this discussion.  For more information contact phone number: 0181-2253285, 70092-39158 and Sakhi One Stop Centre, Jalandhar 90231-31010.

Punjab

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY:

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Rs 166 Crore released for Solid Waste Management and Liquid Waste management in villages of Punjab: Jimpa

IEP Chandigarh, June 05

          On World Environment Day, Punjab Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Mr. Bram Shanker Jimpa said that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government has been committed to protect the environment and has so far released Rs. 166 crore for Liquid Waste Management and Solid Waste Management in the villages of the state.

          While celebrating World Environment Day here at Punjab Bhawan, Mr. Bram Shanker Jimpa said that the water supply and sanitation department has been playing a pivotal role in checking solid and liquid pollutants by opting various initiatives in the villages of the state. He said Rs 13496.33 lacs has been released so far for Liquid Waste Management in the 2950 villages of the state. “To manage the solid waste Rs. 3116.89 crore has been released for Solid Waste Management in 4374 villages”, he added.

          Stressing on the significance of waste management in protecting environment, Mr. Jimpa said that the waste produced nowadays includes non-biodegradable and inorganic elements, and if this waste is disposed of in landfills, it will decompose unnaturally and will take a lot of time. “Waste management is important as it saves the environment from the toxic effects of inorganic and biodegradable element present in waste. Mismanagement of waste can cause water contamination, soil erosion and air contamination”, he added.

          Later, Mr. Bram Shanker Jimpa led the team of officials and employees of the Water Supply and sanitation department in taking the pledge to bring every possible change in their routine habits for protecting the environment besides encouraging others to follow environment-friendly practices. He said that the climate change and global warming are the main challenges before the world and mankind, and it can be tackled only with the contribution of everyone in per own capacity. He said that most people were well aware of the causes of environmental pollution, thus, everyone should contribute in the protection of the environment by bringing changes in daily activities and behaviours. He appealed to the employees of the department to set an example for the people around them by saving water, ensuring the timely repair of water leaks, proper waste management, stopping single-use plastic, and adopting a healthy lifestyle.

          Prominent amongst others, Principal Secretary DWSS Mr. D K Tiwari and Special Secretary DWSS Mohd. Ishfaq were also present on this occasion.

Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab

NO SHARE IN PANJAB UNIVERSITY: PUNJAB CM MAKES CLEAR TO HIS HARYANA COUNTERPART

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IEP Chandigarh, June 5

Asserting that Panjab University, Chandigarh is part of the emotional, cultural, literature and rich legacy of the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday categorically said that they need no share of Haryana in the University, which is an apex educational institute of the region. 

“Neither any college of Haryana will be given affiliation from the university nor will any attempt of Haryana for back door entry in the senate of university be allowed” said the Chief Minister while interacting with the media persons here at Punjab Bhawan.

The Chief Minister bemoaned that regular attempts are being made to change the status of the university. However, he said that the Punjab government will not allow any such move in the larger interests of the students. Bhagwant Mann said that 175 colleges of the state are affiliated with this premier university due to which generations of Punjab are emotionally attached with it.

The Chief Minister said that the University caters only to the state of Punjab and its capital Chandigarh. Citing the history of the University, its constitution, its ethnic, socio-cultural and historical roots as well as its faculty and students who hail primarily from the state of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann said that it is important that the present legal and administrative status of the Panjab University should be preserved. He reminded that at the time of the reorganization of the State of Punjab in 1966, Panjab University was declared as an ‘Inter State Body Corporate’ under section 72(1) of the Punjab Reorganization Act 1966 enacted by the Parliament.

The Chief Minister said that ever since its inception, the Panjab University has been continuously and uninterruptedly functioning in the state of Punjab. Bhagwant Mann recalled that after partition it was shifted from Lahore, the then capital of Punjab, to Hoshiarpur and then to Chandigarh the present capital of Punjab. He asserted that the entire territorial jurisdiction of Panjab University lies primarily in the state of Punjab and Union territory of Chandigarh.

The Chief Minister said that as per Sub-section (4) of Section 72 of the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966, the maintenance deficit grants to the University were to be shared and paid by the states concerned, i.e., Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and UT Administration of Chandigarh in the ratio of 20:20:20:40, respectively. However, he said that in 1970 the then Chief Minister of Haryana Bansi Lal voluntarily pulled out his state’s share from the university adding that in 1973 even the state called back its members of senate from university. Bhagwant Mann said that since then the state of Punjab and UT Administration of Chandigarh have borne the financial responsibility of paying maintenance deficit grants to the University in the ratio of 40:60 respectively.

The Chief Minister said that despite increased financial burden caused by withdrawal of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and the creation of new universities in the state, Punjab has continued to support Panjab University to ensure that the historical and emotional attachment of the people of Punjab with the University is maintained and preserved. He said that recently also the state government has given Rs 49 crore for construction of hostels to the university, even though no demand was made for it. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government has left no stone unturned for the holistic development of the university in all possible manners.

The Chief Minister further said that every step will be taken to retain the Interstate Status of the university and no one will be allowed to make any change in it. He unequivocally said that the interests of the state are not saleable so that anyone will offer money and purchase it. Bhagwant Mann said that the Haryana government’s proposal to bear the share of grants in university is totally unacceptable and unwarranted too.

The Chief Minister, while quoting a letter written by the Additional Chief Secretary of Haryana to the Vice Chancellors of all the universities of the state, said that the Haryana government had through communiqué expressed its inability to give funds to universities. He said that in this letter the Universities were asked to manage their own resources whereas on the other hand Haryana is too eager to put a share in Panjab University which indicates some nefarious designs of the state. Bhagwant Mann said that how can any state which is not able to manage its own universities fund a university of stature of Panjab University until and unless some higher agency was not funding it in a clandestine manner.

The Chief Minister said that after assuming the charge of office he had written two letters to Union Ministers Amit Shah and Dharminder Pradhan asking them that the university is heritage of the state and any sort of change in it will not be tolerated. Reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to avert any change in the nature and character of the Panjab University, he said that the Punjab government is committed to safeguard the rights of the state and its people. Bhagwant Mann said that Panjab University is a symbol of Punjab’s legacy and is synonymous with the name of the State.

The Chief Minister also said that a resolution was also passed in Punjab assembly on June 30, 2022 to retain the original status of PU to avert any sort of intrusion in the senate of university. He said that the state government is not against the people of Haryana and it is also a well known fact that 35% students in university are from Haryana. Bhagwant Mann categorically said that Haryana is free to make its university anywhere but they will not be allowed any share in the Panjab University.

Taking the Akali and Congress leaders to cudgels, the Chief Minister slammed them for backstabbing the state and its people. He said that the then Chief Minister of state late Parkash Singh Badal wrote a letter to erstwhile Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on August 26, 2008 seeking central status for Panjab University. Bhagwant Mann said that going beyond that, the Akali Dal government had issued an NOC to the Union government for converting this premier institute into a central university.

The Chief Minister said that on what grounds the Akali leaders are thumping their chest when everyone knows that they have worked overtime against the interests of the state and its people. He said that granting NOC for the central university was a treacherous move aimed at weakening the claim of state over the university. Bhagwant Mann said that Akali Dal has no moral right to say even a single word on the issue.

The Chief Minister said that these leaders and parties had always preferred their own interests by jeopardizing that of the state. Likewise, he said that Congress was also dyed in the same wool as a female Congress MLA of Haryana had in August 2022 moved a resolution in state Vidhan Sabha to affiliate colleges of state with Panjab University. Bhagwant Mann said that both these parties were hypocrites who had always ignored the interests of the state for their selfish interests.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Cabinet Ministers Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and Harjot Bains, Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua, Additional Chief Secretary to CM A Venuprasad, Special Principal Secretary to CM Ravi Bhagat, Additional Special Principal Secretary to CM Himanshu Jain and others.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Punjab to rationalise staff in Rural Development & Panchayats Dept

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IEP Chandigarh, June 4

          Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar, on Sunday, said that the rationalization of the staff of Rural Development and Panchayats department will be done soon to speed up the work at the ground level.

          Rural Development and Panchayats Minister said, it has come to his notice that additional staff was deployed in many districts, whereas other districts are struggling to complete their task in a timely manner due to lack of staff.

          The Cabinet Minister directed the Finance Commissioner Rural Development and Panchayats Mr. K. Siva Prasad and Director RD&P Mr. Gurpreet Singh Khaira to provide lists of staff of all the wings within two days so as to ensure the deployment of staff in required number in all the districts.

          S. Bhullar said that 73 regular BDPOs are working in total 153 blocks in the state, while 80 posts of BDPOs are vacant. Likewise, 97 blocks of the state are sans Senior Assistant (Accounts).

          S. Laljit Singh Bhullar also asked the authorities to provide the lists of DDPOs and BDPOs working in the same district for past several years. Besides this, the officials have also been asked to provide the number of vacant posts of BDPOs of direct and promotional quota and make arrangements at the earliest to fill these posts.

Chandigarh, Punjab

BRAM SHANKER JIMPA GREETS PEOPLE ON THE EVE OF BAISAKHI

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IEP CHANDIGARH, APRIL 13    

      Punjab Revenue Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa today greeted the people of Punjab on the eve of Baisakhi.          In a message Jimpa said that this festival has a great significance for the farmers of Punjab as this day traditionally marks the beginning of harvest of Rabi crops. This harvest festival is indeed an occasion for them to rejoice over their fruits of toil and for all of us to acknowledge Punjabi farmers’ contribution in making India self-sufficient on food security front.          Jimpa said that this festival has a great religious significance for Sikhs since on this day in the year 1699 at Sri Anandpur Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh ji established Khalsa Panth,  a body of people dedicated to the principles of truth, justice, and equality; the cardinal principles of Sikh faith.          The Minister said that the massacre of hundreds of innocent Punjabis by the British at Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar on this day in the year 1919 proved as the last nail in the coffin of British rule in India.          He called upon people to celebrate this festival collectively and utilize this day to pay our gratitude to all those known and unknown freedom fighters, who laid their lives so that we all can breathe in freedom. Let us also acknowledge the contribution of humble farmers who are working day and night to feed the nation, Jimpa added.

Chandigarh, Punjab

AAP govt stands exposed with its own budgetary revelations: Warring

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IEP CHANDIGARH, March 10

Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring today said that the Aam Aadmi Party government was today completely exposed by its own admission and revelations made in the budget that was presented today in the Punjab legislative assembly.

“This budget has proved to be the harsh reality check for the government in which it has miserably failed”, Warring said while remarking, “the budget 2023-24 is an admission of failures and frustrations of the AAP government”. 

“This is not what we are saying, it is the government which is admitting that Punjab is on the brink of bankruptcy and the state government has no vision to save it”, he said, while adding, had it any plan or programme it would have been revealed in today’s budget only.

Taking a dig at the AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal’s claims that he would generate Rs 20,000 crores from sand mining, Warring pointed out, the budgetary figures showed that the state earned just Rs 153 crores from sand mining last year. 

“Either you have pocketed the balance amount or you must apologise to the people of Punjab that you lied about income from sand mining”, the PCC president told the government. “And what about Rs 34,000 crores which Kejriwal promised to save from corruption?” he asked.

Warring reminded the government that it had promised to pay Rs 1000 every month to every woman in the state. “You are already there for a year and you seem to have completely forgotten that promise”, he told the government,

Similarly, the PCC president added, in 2022-23 budget the AAP promised to shortlist 100 existing schools and upgrade them to the institutes of eminence. Rs. 200 crores were allocated for the same. The same promise has been repeated this year as well, without any mention of having done anything so far.

He pointed out, theBudget 2022-23 promised to establish 16 new medical colleges over a period of 5 years, but this year it has proposed budget allocation for only 2 new medical colleges which means at this rate they would not even be able to start 5 colleges in 5 years.

Referring to the debt situation, Warring pointed out, the AAP government took Rs 31000 cr worth of loans in 1 year while on an average the Congress government took Rs 15000 per year and Rs 73000 cr in 5 years. At this pace, the AAP will indebt the state further by over Rs1.5 lakh crores, he said, adding, today’s budget has proved the popular fears right that this government is completely incompetent and inefficient not only in terms of governance, but also a failure in terms of financial management.

Chandigarh, Punjab

AGRICULTURE MINISTER DISCUSSES AGRICULTURAL POLICY AND FARMERS ISSUES WITH BKU REPRESENTATIVES

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IEP Chandigarh, February 27     

     Punjab Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal today held discussions with the representatives of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) regarding farmers issues of Punjab and the new agriculture policy.          In the meeting held at Punjab Bhawan, representatives of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) Mr. Joginder Singh Ugrahan, Mr. Sukhdev Singh Kokri and Mr. Jhanda Singh gave suggestions regarding agriculture policy. Pointing towards three main objectives, the farmers leaders said, there should be no unfair distribution of land and agricultural equipment, usury should be abolished and all round development of three main resources of agriculture such as water, land and human labour should be ensured. Submitting 39 points for resolving at the government level, the BKU representatives said that due to lack of will power of the previous dispensations, the state of Punjab is facing a deep agrarian crisis.          Mr. Dhaliwal reiterated, Mann government was fully committed to implement Pro-Punjab agriculture model, consequently, the work of drafting agriculture policy of Punjab has been initiated in just eleven months, and we are fully committed to implement it in a true spirit. The Agriculture Minister further added, agriculture issues such as water, electricity, pesticides, fertiliser control are the subject of the state government.          He said, the issues suggested by the farmers union would be considered by the committee constituted for drafting Punjab Agriculture Policy, and their points would also be shared with the public for further discussion. In this series, suggestions of about 8500 farmers have been taken for agriculture policy during the first ever government-farmers milni. Said the Cabinet Minister, adding that the Punjab government has opened the way for the international market for Basmati of the state by banning 10 agricultural pesticides, which has directly benefited the farmers. He said, the draft agriculture policy of Punjab would be placed before the people of the state by March 31, 2023 to ensure that economic condition of the farmers could be improved by implementing the pro-Punjab agriculture model.          The Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Principal Secretary Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Mr. Sumer Singh Gurjar, Secretary Mr. Dr. Arshdeep Singh Thind, Director Dr. Gurvinder Singh, Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana Vice Chancellor Dr. Satveer Singh Gosal, Punjab State Farmers and Agricultural Workers Commission Chairman Mr. Sukhpal Singh and OSD Dr. Devendra Tiwari.

Chandigarh, Punjab

HINDUJA GROUP SHOWS INTEREST TO MANUFACTURE ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN PUNJAB

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IEP Chandigarh, February 24

          The Hinduja Group, a leading bus manufacturing company, has shown its interest to manufacture electric vehicles in Punjab

          On the sideline of the Punjab Investors Summit-2023, the delegation of the Hinduja company today called on Transport Minister S.  Laljit Singh Bhullar. The delegation, which comprised Mr. S.K. Chadha Senior Advisor Hinduja Group, Mr. Piyush Zonal Head Ashok Leyland, Mr. Aman Khanna Business Head Mind Space, Mr. Naresh Arora Zonal Manager IndusInd Bank and Mr. Sachin Nijhawan Chief Commercial Officer, Switch Mobility  gave presentation of the products of the company, and apprised that as the Punjab government has approved the electric vehicle policy, the company wants to manufacture electric small bus in the state, besides opening a driver training institute in the state in partnership with the government.

          The Transport Minister said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led government recently accorded approval to Electric Vehicle Policy (PEVP)- 2022 with a move to check the environmental pollution in the state due to omission from vehicles. The policy desires to reduce vehicular emission, create infrastructure, Manufacturing, Research and Development, Job creation, ensuring sustainability besides to establish Punjab as a favoured destination for manufacturing of electric vehicles, components and batteries.

          Representatives of Hinduja Group, while appreciating the state government for launching comprehensive electric vehicle policy, said that they have high hopes from the Chief Minister and his government. Congratulating the Chief Minister and his government for working for betterment of state in a mission mode with pure intentions, they said that Punjab is the land of enterprise, hard working and dedicated people. They lauded the single window system being offered by the state government for clearances, and said that Punjab is on threshold of transition due to its top class infrastructure coupled with conducive government policies.

Chandigarh, Punjab

LOCAL GOVERNMENT MINISTER EXHORTS NRI PUNJABIS TO INVEST IN HOME STATE

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IEP SAS Nagar, February 23

          Terming the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as a visionary and honest person with wholehearted commitment to improve the lot of the State, the Local Government Minister Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar divulged that law and order, industrialization, logistics, adventure tourism are some of the key areas that the present dispensation is focussing its energies upon.

          Chairing the United Kingdom – Partner country session here at the Indian School of Business during the first day of the 5th Progressive Punjab Investor Summit 2023, the Minister exhorted the NRI Punjabi diaspora in the UK to come back to the roots and invest in the State as the conditions are most congenial for doing business in Punjab. “A new policy is on the anvil to bring the canal water into the industries and even in the cities besides the 20 rural industrial parks already existing which provide employment avenues to the local people”, said Dr. Nijjar adding that the partnership between the UK and Punjab Government would be mutually beneficial to both.

          Emphasizing the strengthening of UK – India ties with focus on Punjab, the Deputy High Commissioner, UK High Commission in India, Caroline Rowett listed Innovative Education, Trade & Investment, Climate Change and Start Ups as the key sectors for taking the ties between both the parties to a new level. Lauding the contribution of 1.7 million Indian diaspora in the UK with half of them being Punjabis, the Deputy High Commissioner voiced support for flights from Chandigarh to Birmingham and London besides Cooperation at Primary as well as Secondary School level. “The companies from Chandigarh with expertise in IT, Hospitality and Healthcare spheres have also invested heavily in the UK”, added the Deputy High Commissioner.

          In his address, Member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom, Lord Diljit Rana disclosed that 40 companies from the Northern Ireland have made investments in India hence the Chief Minister, Punjab should send a delegation there for exploring trade and business opportunities. Making out a strong case for building relations first, Lord Rana said that Engineering, Agriculture, Food Processing and Medical Diagnostics apart from Mining are the core areas where the both Punjab and the UK could benefit.

          Earlier, the Principal Secretary NRI Affairs, Punjab, J.M. Balamurugan while dwelling on the India UK ties, said that the relationship between the both is a historic one with Punjabi community being the second largest in numbers in UK after Canada and contributing 6 percent of UKs GDP. He further mentioned that UK is the 6th largest investor in India with 600 firms operating in the country.

          On the occasion, MD, Rockpecker Ltd. Rajnish Dhawan, CEO (India) Gensus ABS Dr. Rahul Gupta, Co – Founder InQube Tridibesh Bandhopadhyay, Investment Lead of Capital Team Sumesh Girhotra, Chief Executive Officer BIKAL Raj Sandhu, Managing Director Ebdo Energy Systems UK Prof. Gurvinder Virk and Young Professional from Visa Scheme Ben Pugsley also shared their experiences.

          The Local Government Minister on the occasion also felicitated the Deputy High Commissioner Caroline Rowett.