SUKHBIR BADAL IN PAK: Expresses confidence for starting of trade of 6,000 items by Dec 31

·         Opening of Hussainiwala Border and Kartarpur corridor other key issues for discussion

·         Advocates for simplification of visa process

Amritsar (Wagha), November 5, 2012: The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal led 45 members delegation comprising 5 Cabinet Ministers, eminent industrialists and traders and agri-experts today crossed Wagha border with a sole aim to create congenial atmosphere for boosting economic ties between the two most important countries of South Asia to rewrite the business priorities for future.

Before leaving for Pakistan, the Deputy Chief Minister had a brief interaction with media persons at Sri Guru Ram Dass International Airport. He said that as per the talks going on between India and Pakistan for increasing bilateral trade, he was quiet confident that by December 31 the neighboring countries would start trading of 6000 items through Wagha border thereby paving the way for transformation of the whole South Asian region. He said that the members of the delegation would deliberate with their Pakistani counterparts to explore the way for taking bilateral trade in next orbit besides strengthening the bonds between both Punjabs’. He said that they would also discuss the key issues of opening of Hussainiwala border besides a provision of Kartarpur corridor as the people of Punjab were desperate to pay their obeisance at Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that the Punjab government was making concerted efforts for opening up of a Visa centre at Amritsar for simplification of Visa procedure. He said that the Punjab Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh has taken up this issue with appropriate authorities and we were quite hopeful that Amritsar and Lahore would soon have Visa centres to facilitate the people. He said that the people of Pakistan, who were visiting India for medical facilities, were compelled to go to Delhi for their treatment and he would take up this matter so that those people could avail world class health facilities at Amritsar as visiting Amritsar instead of Delhi for them was quite easy and affordable.

Describing Kabbadi a vital link between India and Pakistan, the Deputy Chief Minister informed that he would inaugurate 2nd Asia Kabbadi Cup on November 7.

Prominent amongst others who were the part of the Deputy Chief Minister led delegation includes Bikram Singh Majithia, Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Sikander Singh Maluka, Anil Joshi and Sharanjit Singh Dhillon (All Cabinet Ministers), Ratan Singh Ajnala, MP, Sarup Chand Singla, Virsa Singh Valtoha, Inderbir Singh Bolaria, Som Parkash and Harmeet Singh Sandhu (All CPS), Pargat Singh and Deep Malhotra, both MLAs, Kamal Oswal, Advisor Industries/Chief Minister and Rajinder Gupta, Vice-Chairman Planning Board besides senior officers and eminent industrialists, traders and agri-experts.