LoP Bajwa seeks economic package for state

The Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, on Wednesday urged the Centre to introduce a robust economic package to foster a long-term stability and growth in Punjab’s border areas.

Bajwa said six border districts, home to over 50 lakh people, contributed significantly to Punjab’s agricultural output but suffered due to industrial underdevelopment.

“The Centre must offer tax holidays, similar to those provided in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir between 2003 and 2013. During this period, Himachal attracted investments worth Rs 13,000 crore,” he added.

Bajwa proposed additional measures, including subsidised power and land allocation for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in border areas.

“Punjab’s border districts have the potential to become hubs for agro-processing and light manufacturing units, reducing dependency on agriculture and creating at least 50,000 new jobs over the next five years,” he said.

To bolster security, Bajwa advocated formation of village defence committees (VDCs) within a 5-km radius of the India-Pakistan border, covering approximately 2,000 villages.

Punjab