Punjab to benefit from Indo-Pak ties

CHANDIGARH, Sep 24 (UNI): Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh today said that the improvement in relations between India and Pakistan would have its maximum impact on the economy of Punjab.

Addressing a meeting of Congress MLA's, MP's and party functionaries at Punjab Congress Bhavan here, he said the efforts were on to improve relations with Pakistan and this would be beneficil for Punjab.Trade through the Wagah border would certainly give a boost to business activity in this state,he added.

Dr Singh also referred to the proposed Amritsar-Nankana Sahib bus link and said this again would be benefit for Punjab.

Talks were on FOR finalising this link with Pakistan,he added.

The Prime Minister said that Punjab's demand for another international airport was under consideration.

This airport is proposed to be located at Ladhowal near Ludhiana and the Punjab government has already sent its report to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Presently Punjab has an international airport at Raja Sansi in Amritsar.

Regarding the demand by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh for extension of the Kolkatta New Delhi rail corridor (goods rail track) to Amritsar, Dr Singh said he would take up the matter with the concerned ministry.

Refering to the need of developing the infra-structure in the country particular the road network, Dr Singh announced that the four-laning of the Chandigarh-Ambala, Chandigarh-Kiratpur Sahib,Amritsar-Jalandhar and Amritsar-Pathankot would be taken up very soon.He also refered to the importance of six-laning of the Ambala-Ludhiana, Ludhiana-Jalandhar stretches of National Highway-I for fast movement of goods from Punjab.

Regarding another proposal of setting up a central power project in Punjab, the PM noted that this was needed considering the electricity demand in the state.A central organisation like the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) could be asked to take up such a project,he suggested.

The PM retreated his yesterday's proposal to include Ludhiana in the list of places selected by the Centre for development as 'model cities' under the National Urban Renewal Mission.A second green revolution is needed in Punjab and this can become a reality through labour friendly industrialisation that would solve the problem of unemployment,he suggested.

The PM also took the opportunity to announce that the central government would consider any proposal aimed at improving the health and educational facilities at the PGIMER,Chandigarh,the premier health institute/hospital in the region.The proposal could be in the form of additional faculities for the PGI and "we will help",he added.