FINANCE MINISTER HARPAL SINGH CHEEMA DIRECTS FORMATION OF HIGH-POWERED COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS VERKA OUTSOURCED UNION ISSUES

ASSURES TO FULFILL UNION'S LEGITIMATE DEMANDS

Chandigarh, October 9-Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, who is also the Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee formed to resolve employees issues, on Thursday directed the Milkfed authorities to immediately constitute a High-Powered Committee to address the concerns of the Verka Milk and Cattle Feed Plant Outsourced Mulazam Union.

The directives were issued during a meeting held with the Union representatives at the Verka Head Office, where the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema gave a patient hearing to their concerns, demands, and grievances.

The Finance Minister instructed that the committee be formed with a diverse representation to ensure a comprehensive resolution. The mandated members include a senior officer from the Finance Department, the Chairman Milkfed, the MD Milkfed, the General Manager HR Milkfed, the Manager Finance, and two employees from the Union.

Finance Minister Cheema further directed this newly formed committee to draft a proposal specifically aimed at resolving the Union’s issues. This proposal is then to be forwarded to the Cabinet Sub-Committee for a swift and definitive resolution. The Finance Minister assured the Union representatives that their legitimate demands would be fulfilled.

The officers present in the meeting included Chairman Milkfed Narinder Singh Shergill, Managing Director Milkfed Rahul Gupta, and Additional Advocate General TPS Walia. Representing the Union, Pawandeep Singh and Jasbir Singh presented their case.

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*Mohinder Bhagat Lauds PESCO’s Excellent Services on its 47th Raising Day
*Punjab Government Committed to Welfare of Servicemen and Their Families

Chandigarh, October 9:Punjab Cabinet Minister for Defence Services Welfare, Freedom Fighters, and Horticulture, Shri Mohinder Bhagat, extended his warm greetings to all officers and employees of the Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation (PESCO) on the occasion of its 47th Raising Day.

Minister Bhagat appreciated PESCO for providing employment to more than 6,000 ex-servicemen during the past year under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. He said that this was a significant initiative under the Punjab Government’s welfare and rehabilitation policies, aimed at ensuring the social and economic upliftment of ex-servicemen and their families.

The Minister also commended PESCO for playing a vital role in safeguarding important state assets and for providing essential services to various government departments and institutions.

He reaffirmed that the Punjab Government is fully committed to the welfare of ex-servicemen and their families, describing them as the “symbols of honesty, dedication and hard work.”

Minister Mohinder Bhagat conveyed his best wishes for PESCO’s continued growth and success, expressing confidence that the Corporation would further strengthen its significant role in the service of Punjab.

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350TH MARTYRDOM DAY OF SRI GURU TEGH BAHADUR JI: HARJOT BAINS ORDERS ROADS UPGRADATION FOR SMOOTH TRAVEL TO SRI ANANDPUR SAHIB

• Directs PWD to ensure all roads leading to the holy city are fully functional by mid-November

• Education Minister reviews comprehensive arrangements for lakhs of devotees expected at the historic Samagam

Chandigarh, October 9:Punjab Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains today directed the Public Works Department (PWD) and other concerned authorities to ensure that all roads leading to Sri Anandpur Sahib are repaired and made fully functional by mid-November, to facilitate the smooth and safe travel of lakhs of devotees expected to gather for the upcoming 350th Martyrdom Day of Ninth Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji.

Chairing a high-level meeting with Ropar district authorities and officials of various departments here at the Punjab Civil Secretariat to review the preparations for the historic occasion, S. Bains gave strict instructions for the timely completion of all basic amenities, with a special emphasis on road infrastructure.

The Education Minister stressed that providing seamless connectivity to the holy city is a top priority for the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. He instructed officials to ensure that all approach roads to Sri Anandpur Sahib are in perfect condition, ensuring a safe and comfortable journey for the pilgrims arriving from across India and abroad.

Detailing the broader arrangements, S. Bains said that alongside robust road infrastructure, the government is ensuring operational street lights, proper sanitation, ample drinking water facilities, and a sufficient number of public toilets across key routes and congregation points. He further emphasized setting up designated parking areas with proper signage, lighting, and accessible medical facilities for the convenience of the devotees.

To enrich the spiritual experience of the pilgrims, S. Bains directed the installation of LED screens at various prominent locations to showcase the glorious history and significance of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji’s life and the sacred sites of the region.

Reiterating the government's commitment, Harjot Singh Bains said that all departments, including PWD, Local Government, Tourism, Police, Health, and Power, have been directed to work in close coordination and complete all arrangements well in advance. He urged the officers to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness, discipline, and devotee-friendly management throughout the celebrations.

The Punjab Government is fully committed to ensuring a memorable, safe, and spiritually enriching experience for all devotees attending the 350th Shaheedi Samagam of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, he added.

Prominent officers present in the meeting included ADC Ropar Pooja Sayal, SDM Jaspreet Singh, RTA Gurvinder Singh Johal, BBMB Chief Engineer N.P. Singh, XEN Harjot Walia, XEN Harjit Singh, XEN S.S. Bhullar along with officials from various departments.

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PUNJAB GOVT CONSTITUTES SECTOR-SPECIFIC COMMITTEE TO FORMULATE ROADMAP FOR REAL ESTATE TRANSFORMATION

COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE CUSTOMISED POLICY INPUTS FOR A STRUCTURED AND TRANSPARENT REAL ESTATE ECOSYSTEM: HARDEEP SINGH MUNDIAN

Chandigarh, October 9:The Punjab Government has constituted a sector-specific committee to prepare a customised transformation roadmap for the real estate sector aimed at promoting structured engagement between the real estate industry and the government. The committee has been formed under the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide policy inputs for a progressive, transparent and investment-friendly real estate ecosystem in Punjab.

Disclosing this, Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister Sh. Hardeep Singh Mundian said the initiative seeks to create a best-in-class policy model through active collaboration with leading stakeholders from the real estate sector. The Cabinet Minister said that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government is committed to fostering a conducive environment for sustainable growth, ease of doing business and investor confidence in Punjab’s housing and urban development landscape.

He informed that the committee includes Sh. Deepak Garg (Director, Marbella Group) as a Chairperson and Sh. Rupinder Singh Chawla (MD, CEE ENN Promoters and Developers Pvt. Ltd) as the Vice-chairman. The members include Sh. Umang Jindal (CEO, Homeland Group); Sh. Sukhdev Singh (Director, AGI Group); Sh. Pardeep Kumar Bansal (Director, HLP Group); S. Baljeet Singh (Director, Jubilee Group); Sh. Deepak Makhija (Business Head Punjab, EMAAR Group); S. Rupinder Singh Gill (MD, Gillsons Construction Ltd); Sh. Rohit Sharma (Executive Director, DLF Group); Sh. K.K. Sharma Kuku (Director, SG Group); Sh. Mohinder Goel (Chairman, Affinity Group); Sh. Varun Dham (Director, KLV Builders) and Sh. Amarinder Singh Malhi, ACA, GMADA as Member Secretary.

The Cabinet Minister said that the core task assigned to this committee is to provide the government with structured and practical policy inputs tailored to Punjab’s real estate landscape, keeping in view the state’s fiscal and structural framework. The committee will study the best practices and policy frameworks adopted by other states and develop recommendations that align with Punjab’s developmental priorities. The committee will submit its written recommendations within six weeks of the issuance of the notification.

Requisite support to the committee will be provided by the Member Secretary, who will also coordinate meetings and maintain the minutes of proceedings.

S. Hardeep Singh Mundian said the constitution of this committee is a proactive step toward strengthening transparency, accountability and investor-friendly reforms in the real estate sector.