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NRIs asked to invest in Punjab’s key infrastructure

Photo: Akhilesh Kumar

Rooting for grassroots: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal addressing the inaugural session of Punjabi NRI Sammelan-2008 in Chandigarh on Saturday.

Chandigarh: Showcasing Punjab as the land of opportunities, the Punjab Government on Saturday invited non-resident Indians to invest in State’s key infrastructure as Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal threw open the two-day Punjabi NRI Conclave 2008.

The government has sought NRI investment in real estate, hospital, healthcare, aviation, hospitality and retail sectors.

Over 300 NRI delegates were present at the conclave as against confirmed participation of 200 of them, prompting Mr. Badal to apologise for lack of proper arrangements.

The Chief Minister assured the Indian diaspora that the State machinery was ready to help them in their efforts to make Punjab a developed State.

Among those present were hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal and former British Columbia premier Ujjal Dosanjh.

Presenting a paper on ‘Vision Punjab’, Shiromani Akali Dal working president Sukhbir Singh Badal said an international airport will soon be set up at Mohali which would provide impetus to both industry and agricultural sectors.

Sukhbir, an MP, said during this year alone, two more airports at Ludhiana and Bathinda would start domestic services. “Pathankot airport has already been opened for domestic services and we are trying that the airports at Ludhiana and Bathinda should also start this year,” he said.

He said the State has plans to generate 5000 MW of power during next four years.

Punjab Cooperation Minister Kanwaljit Singh during his speech sought cooperation of Punjabi NRIs to push the growth of the State economy.

Responding to the queries raised by NRIs during the technical session, Punjab the Chief Minister assured that all the 1300 cases of proclaimed offenders would be reviewed within the next two months.

He informed that all the SPs headquarters have been designated as SP NRI to deal with the cases pertaining to NRIs at priority. To ensure speedy justice to the NRIs two family courts were being set up at Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur.

Mr. Badal said the State Government would soon introduce sports science as subject in the colleges and universities to boost the sports avenues in the State as well as abroad. He also assured that the image of State police would be made people friendly to redress the grievances of NRIs at the priority.

The technical session on ‘Legal Perspective for NRIs’ and ‘Role of Development of NRIs in Punjab’ was chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in the afternoon. Advocate General Punjab H.S. Mattewal and Sukhbir Singh Badal were the co-chairman of these sessions.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also released a book titled “Overview of legal issues” for NRIs.

The Chief Minister said that officers and ministers from Punjab could also visit abroad to meet NRIs there to ascertain their problems and grievances so that these could be resolved in a time bound manner.

On the question of NRI marriages running into trouble due to cheating etc, mostly of brides from Punjab, Mr. Badal said that the matter would be taken within the legal framework. -- PTI

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