Set up pharma park in Bathinda, Centre urged

Chandigarh/New Delhi, Oct 22

Finance Minister Manpreet Badal today met Union Minister for Chemicals, Fertilisers and Pharmaceuticals Mansukh L Mandaviya seeking establishment of a pharmaceutical park in Bathinda.

“The park will serve the country, particularly the northern region, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, western UP, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh,” the Finance Minister said.

He said it was equally important to diversify Punjab’s economy as well as its agriculture. Responding to Badal, the Union Minister said he would give Bathinda the highest consideration.

Establishment of a pharmaceutical park at Bathinda would provide direct employment to around 1 lakh people and indirect employment to nearly 2 lakh people, Badal said.

He underlined the presence of a fully operational ‘A’ level railway station, availability of 1,350 acres, and proximity to the Bathinda Oil Refinery, making the site ideal for establishing a pharma park. — TNS