The Hindu : Other States / Punjab News : Punjab seeks permission to export wheat directly

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Sunday, Feb 20, 2005

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Punjab seeks permission to export wheat directly

By Our Staff Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, FEB 19. The Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh, has said that the state government had taken up the case with the Union Ministries of External Affairs and Commerce to allow Punjab direct export of wheat to Pakistan through land route via Wagah. According to an official release the Chief Minister was hopeful of a favourable decision from the Centre, which he foresaw would bring cheer to the farmers as they could fetch better price for their produce. He made the disclosure while addressing election rallies in various villages in Ajnala in support of party candidate Harpartap Singh.

Capt. Singh informed that wheat in Pakistan was being sold at Rs.1800 per quintal while the minimum support price on this side of the border was Rs.630 per quintal. Pakistan imported wheat from India through the Mumbai, Dubai and finally Karachi route.

Capt Singh said that the concerted efforts by him and his counterpart of Pakistani Punjab, Pervaiz Elahi, had created a congenial atmosphere of friendship, mutual trust and goodwill to boost the trade and commerce activity in the border areas. He emphasised that resurgence of economic ties between India and Pakistan would also generate tremendous employment potential for the unemployed youth in the region.

Allaying fears and insecurity among prospective entrepreneurs and investors who intend to set up their industrial ventures in border districts, Capt. Singh said that the improved relations between India and Pakistan provided a major business potential. While such ventures would provide employment to the youth, they would prove extremely competitive in the world market.

The Chief Minister said that modalities were being worked out by the Union Government to set up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to encourage industrialisation in Amritsar district. He said that he met the Prime Minister recently to request that project be implemented expeditiously.

Dr. Manmohan Singh expressed his keenness to honour his commitment made on the Quadra-centennial Celebrations of the installation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the Golden Temple.

Capt. Singh pointed out that winning the Ajnala by-election would boost the state government's morale that people of Punjab had reposed full faith and confidence in the policies and programmes of the Congress which had recorded landslide victories of Malout, Kapurthala and Garhshankar by-elections.

Capt. Singh said that Akalis did nothing tangible during their tenure except amassing wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income through rampant corruption and nepotism.

He also blamed Mr. Badal for pushing the state into terrorism. He pointed various occasions where the Congress while standing up for the rights of the state had ushered in all round development.

Dwelling in detail about the development undertaken by the present government, Capt. Singh said that the World Bank had approved a scheme for the construction of 3000 kms of roads at a cost of Rs. Rs.800 crores. Besides, 27 mega projects worth Rs.10,000 crores had been approved and sanctioned during the current financial year.

US based multinational company was setting up an IT park in over 5000 acres of land in Ropar district.

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