Will flag opening of trade with Pakistan with Shah to boost state’s economy: Channi
SGT Times Reporter
Chandigarh, December 6
In a bid to boost the State’s economy, the Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Monday announced at Amritsar that he would soon write to the Government of India (GoI) besides seeking appointment from the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to flag the issue for opening trade with the neighboring country of Pakistan.
Acceding to the major demand of the PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry, CM 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.
In his address during the 15th Edition of the Punjab International Trade Expo (PITEX) here, CM Channi 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.
Likewise, CM 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.
Listing the achievements of his government, CM Channi divulged that the State Government has withdrawn 40000 VAT related cases registered against the traders, abolishing the institutional tax, made the Right to Business Act, 2020 applicable, doing away with the need to obtain CLU in case of extension of factories and industrial areas, reduced 50 percent fixed charges thus giving huge respite to the industrial sector, Bringing down the number of 14 mobile squads to 4 thus ending inspector raj, up-gradation of focal points at a cost of Rs. 150 crore, One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme for disputed cases besides a film city project are already on the anvil in Chandigarh to be developed over an area of 200 acres. “We are also planning to introduce curriculum in the educational institutions in line with the demands of the industrial sector with sharpened focus on skill development”, added the Chief Minister.
On the occasion, PPCC 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.
