package

Ludhiana, May 13 (UNI) The Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal will lead a delegation of trade and industry to meet the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and stress the need for announcing an industrial package for the state along the lines of concessions granted to its neighboring states.

A decision to this effect was taken during the course of an interaction between the government and the representatives of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI).

An Official press release issued at the conclusion of the interactive function said that the Chief Minister- led delegation would also ask the government of India to take up with its counter part in Pakistan the issue of opening the Wagha and Hussaniwala borders. The Chief Minister said that the opening of these borders can relieve immense reservoir of energies for development and prosperity on both sides of the fence.

Earlier, addressing the representatives of trade and industry at a function organized by PHDCCI at Ludhiana, Mr. Badal announced to start an inter-active mechanism between the government and the trade&industry with the bi-monthly structured meetings.

Representatives of trade&industry have been asked to send their demands, proposals and recommendations at least 15 days ahead of each one of these meetings. These proposals and demands would be processed by the high ranking officials of the state government within a period not exceeding 10 days. The exercise, said Mr. Badal, was aimed at removing the communication gap between the government and trade and industry.

The Chief Minters declared that the state government would place power and infrastructure development on the top of the agenda " within three and half years". We propose to generate at least 6000 MWs of additional power. Similarly, the process of building six -lanes, four lane highways as well as state - of -the- art- super inter cities express high ways in the state. He said that power was the key component of any plans for progress's " No power, no development," he said.

UNI