Chandigarh/Ludhiana, August 22
The Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is actively working to promote the state’s IT sector by reserving significant land for its development, said Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema today. He made the announcement while speaking as the chief guest at the “IT India Expo – 2025” held here today.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the government plans to expand the IT sector into several cities in the near future. He highlighted the growing confidence of investors, noting that industrialists have already invested over Rs 1 lakh crore in the state, with the IT sector attracting a large share of this investment.
Praising the IT India Expo 2025 and focusing on innovation, Finance
Minister Cheema commended the organizers of the IT India Expo, calling it a commendable effort. He extended his congratulations to the team for introducing new technologies to the residents of Ludhiana, particularly to students in the IT field. He noted that people from Ludhiana and other cities were participating in the exhibition, purchasing new products, and sharing their experiences.
Calling it the largest exhibition of its kind in India, Finance Minister Cheema said the event had been in preparation for nearly three years. Over 1,000 dealers and approximately 22,000 registered students from the IT sector participated, gaining valuable insights into new technologies not available online.
Replying to a media query meanwhile, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that during the current flood crisis, the central government must support Punjab. He called on the Center to release around Rs 50,000 crore to compensate for GST losses and to provide approximately Rs 10,000 crore in Rural Development Fund (RDF) to the state.
He assured that the administration and ministers are fully prepared and are working tirelessly to manage the natural disaster. He reiterated his plea to the central government to provide special grants to help flood-affected families.
On a somber note, Finance Minister Cheema expressed his condolences to the family of renowned comedian Jaswinder Singh Bhalla. He described Bhalla’s passing as an irreparable loss to the Punjabi film industry, noting that his comedy had brought joy to people across the globe.
