SUKHBIR SAYS: `Law & order is well under control’

Amritsar, December 10, 2012:The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today categorically said that the law and order situation was under total control and nobody would be allowed to vitiate the atmosphere of state.

Badal was interacting with the media persons after presiding over concluding ceremony of PITEX-2012 here today. Replying to a query, the Deputy Chief Minister said that Punjab police was fully vigilant against any mischief by anti social elements and instructions have been issued to strictly handle the rowdy elements. He said that he had already ordered to register case against Sukhdev Singh Namdhari for getting weapon license by filling wrong declaration and police would seek his production remand after filling a case in Mohali police station.   

Badal announced to set up a World Class permanent trade centre within next two years to boost the trade activities in the region as setting up of such trade centers have become imperative to provide the platform to the industrialists, traders and manufacturers to showcase their products.  Citing the examples of Dubai and Singapore, the Deputy Chief Minister pointed out that the economy of these World Class cities revolves around the trade promotion activities going on there. 

He said that within two year Amritsar and Mohali, both would have permanent trade centers.  He said that with the most likely permission of trading of 6000 items through Attari Border by the end of this month, the border district of Amritsar would become a hub of large scale trade activities between South Asian countries.  He said that for the smooth trading activities we have to further upgrade our present infrastructure at ICP Attari. 

He said that the Punjab Government has already requested the Union Government to set up a container Depot to boost the export of fresh vegetables, fruits and flowers as these were the perishable items which need air conditioned containers.  He said that during his recent Pakistan visit, the Pak Punjab Chief Minister Janab Shahbaz Sharif had assured him to take up the issue of up-gradation of infrastructure at Wagha Border for smooth trading activities between the neighboring countries.  He said that Pak Punjab Chief Minister led delegation comprising of members of his cabinet besides prominent traders and industrialists would visit Punjab from 14 to 16 December. 

The deputy chief minister said that in the fast changing scenario, Punjab was all set to become the centre point of trading activities between South Asian countries. He said that being a land route, it would not only limited to the trading between India, Pakistan and Afghanistan but also cover the Russian provinces. 

Earlier, addressing an impressing gathering of traders, the Deputy Chief Minister said that SAD-BJP Government is determined to attract investment and for this purpose the overall infrastructure of the state was being upgraded.  He said that the State was all set to become first power surplus state of the country by the end of year 2013. Besides this, every city and town of the state would have 4/6 lane express way connectivity within two years. He said that the State Government has also launched Rs. 8750 crore project for up-gradation of civic infrastructure in the cities and towns of the state.

Badal appreciated the initiative taken by PHD Chamber towards the successful organization of International Trade Fair in Amritsar consecutively for  7 years.  He said that their efforts will hopefully be rewarded with sweet fruit soon.

Anil Joshi, Industry Minister Punjab, Inderbir Singh Bolaria and Harmit Singh Sandhu (Both Chief Parliamentary Secretaries), Bakshi Ram Arora Mayor, M.P. Arora Chairman PSIC, Rajat Aggarwal, Deputy Commissioner, Suman Jyoti Khetan, Senior Vice President PHD, Rajiv Balli, Chairman Punjab Committee, R.S. Sachdeva Co-Chairman Punjab Committee were also present on the occasion.