To boost Punjab’s economy, the Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Monday announced that he would soon write to the Central Government besides seeking appointment from the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to flag the issue for opening trade with the neighbouring Pakistan.
Channi, in his address during the 15th edition of Punjab International Trade Expo (PITEX), questioned if the trade can be carried by the sea route, then why not the same is permitted through land route as it would propel enormous opportunities of economic prosperity.
Acceding to the major demand of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Channi announced that the foundation stone of a convention centre for PITEX over an area of 10 acres would be laid within this week to enable the organization to carry out diverse range of activities to promote trade and industry in the region in a big way.
Likewise, Channi also said that a digital single window system would be put in place shortly to ensure all kinds of requisite permissions from a unified platform to the industrialists in a seamless manner. “This move would also enable them to apply for permissions from their homes to almost removing the user interface with the officials, thus increasing transparency,” said Channi.
Citing the huge potential of Amritsar in religious tourism, Channi expressed satisfaction that Punjab has been ranked No. 1 in terms of infrastructure development in tourism sector. He also lauded the PITEX for its yeoman’s service in offering a big platform to the businessmen of the state, especially the region and ensuring presence of five countries viz Iran, Egypt, Afghanistan, Turkey and Thailand, in the Expo.
Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu also underlined the significance of the cross border trade. Describing Amritsar as the biggest market of Asia, he said that it would open new vistas of prosperity for Punjab as trade and business activities would be carried out with 34 countries.
Underscoring the need to give fillip to MSMEs (small traders), Sidhu said that our focus must be on enabling the youth to be job creators instead of job seekers.
