AMRITSAR DECEMBER 05: Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today called upon the national governments of India and Pakistan to speed up the efforts to collaborate and open trade through the Attari-Wagha Border for scripting a golden chapter in the history of Indo-Pak relations. Addressing the Valedictory function of PHD-Punjab International Trade Expo, 2011, PITEX, 2011, Mr. Badal said that the on going peace process through people to people contact between the Indian and Pakistan Punjab would certainly pave a way for the long lasting peace in India and Pakistan as the national governments of both the countries were making concerted and sincere efforts in this direction. He hoped that with the renewed and congenial relations with the Pakistani Punjab the border belt of Indian Punjab especially the districts of Ferozepur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur would be enormously benefited with the opening of trade through Attari-Wagha. He said: “Trade in Punjabs on both sides of the border can survive and flourish only when there is free flow of trade across the border to either side”. Mr. Badal also pointed out that once the Indo-Pak trade activity through Attari-Wagha was started then there was a further scope to extent it in the gulf countries too.
Listing the spectacular achievements of the SAD-BJP government, Mr. Badal said that Punjab would soon become a power surplus state which would further boost the pace of industrialization and agricultural growth. Commenting on the power scenario in the State, he said that five years ago, Punjab State faced a shortage of 30%. “With the new thermal power plants in the offing would soon make our state self reliant in the power sector”, said Mr.Badal. He said that our government had taken major initiatives to provide quality education to our students be it at school, college and university level besides taking major steps in skill development and employment generation to optimally utilize the potential of our unemployed youth for providing gainful employment to them in the local industry.
Appreciating the PHD Chamber’s efforts, Mr. Badal said that PHD Chamber had played a pivotal role to align the state and central government policies regarding trade and investment. He also lauded the dedicated endeavor of the Chamber to normalize trade and peace between India and Pakistan. The Chief Minister said that PITEX has become phenomenal and both traders and visitors look forward to this expo each year. He informed that he had convened a meeting of the state functionaries including officials from the Improvement Trust, Amritsar on December 11, 2011, to finalize the allotment of land in Amritsar for setting up of permanent business and convention center to be managed by PHD Chamber.
Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce Dr. S S Channy said that being a landlocked state, border was the only exit for Pak and Gulf countries. With Punjab having a strong base for industry, agriculture, raw materials and Gulf countries being importers of such things, which they have to procure at exorbitant rates from Europe and other countries, the opening up of the borders would help the Gulf countries and in turn the local traders.
President PHD Chamber Mr.Salil Bhandari said PHD Chamber’s focus is on socio-economic development of all the states with the main focus being on education, health, housing and infrastructure. PITEX, he said, was the annual flagship event which aimed at making Amritsar a hub of international economic activity.
Regional Director, PHD Chamber Mr.Dalip Sharma said that with its proximity to the border, air connectivity and the world class road infrastructure in place, the permanent expo centre, would definitely improve the trade and investment potential of the State.
Prominent amongst others who were present on the occasion included Past President PHD Chamber Mr. Ashok Khanna, Chairman Punjab Committee PHD Chamber Mr.Rajiv Bali, Co-Chairman Punjab Committee PHD Chamber Mr. R S Sachdeva and Deputy Secretary General PHD Chamber Ms Susmita Shekhar.
