Indo-Pak ties good for Punjab: Amarinder

Guru Har Sahai (Ferozepur) Mar 9 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Amarindrer Singh today said that the normalisation of Indo-Pak relations will lead to the opening up of the Wagah, Hussainiwala and Dera Baba Nanak borders to boost trade and commerce activity in the border belt of the state.

Addressing a public gathering at Mohan-ke-Hitthar village near here, he said that once these borders were open, there would be tremendous opportunities for bilateral trade thereby instilling confidence amongst the prospective entrepreneurs and industrialists to set up their ventures in the border districts.

He said the people of these areas had suffered the brunt of Indo-Pak aggression in 1971 and now with the fostering of mutual trust goodwill, and friendship between the people of 'east' and 'west' Punjab, a new chapter of love and compassion had been scripted in the history of Indo-Pak relations.

He said that Punjab had made significant achievements on all the fronts of agriculture, fiscal and industry in the last three to four years. He also said that the state government had launched the Punjab Nirman Scheme with an outlay of Rs 600 crore to ensure the overall development and upgradation of infrastructure in rural areas.

He said a State Education Commission was being set up to revamp the education system in schools and colleges to make it more viable and meaningful.

Earlier Capt Singh laid a foundation stone of the Shaheed Udham Singh government college building at Guru Har Sahai to be built at a cost of Rs three crore. He also laid the foundation stone of a modern bus stand here which would be completed at a cost of Rs 80 lakh.

Besides, he also launched Rs three crore scheme to ensure potable drinking water and sewerage facility to the residents of this town.

He also presented a cheque of Rs 11 crore to Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Sports and Youth Affairs) and local MLA Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi for the execution of various on-oing development projects in Guru Har Sahai constituency.

He also announced to construct a railway under bridge at a cost of Rs. 80 lakh. He also assured the Rai Sikh community and Christians families that they would be considered at par with the SC beneficiaries for the benefits extended under various welfare schemes of the state government.

UNI HS PA BS1911