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Smugglers go on a hiring spree
Booked in ‘false’ case; MLA offers to court arrest
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Buyers go for cheaper the better at trade expo
Amritsar, December 5 
More expensive items recorded a low sale at the five-day PITEX, organised by the PHD Chambers, which concluded today.
A cross section of the exhibitors said the low and moderately valued articles sold like hot cakes.Mohammed Ishaq from Afghanistan shows woollen carpets. Photos: Sameer Sehgal
Business convention centre; CM to hold meet on Dec 11
Here business is mixed with pleasure
A stall owners sells flowers at PITEX, an international trade expo, organised in Amritsar. Photo: Sameer Sehgal
Footbridge a hurdle for traffic
Ministerial staff resume work
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Smugglers go on a hiring spree
Amritsar, December 5 In some of the smuggling cases solved in the recent past the “jail connection” among the perpetrators of such activities has come to light. Petty criminals involved in drug peddling in city, snatchings or booked under the Excise Act etc graduate to international smugglers using the contacts of these notorious smugglers. They guide them to bring the consignment sneaked into this side of the border to be further delivered to the target audiences. They come in contact with these smugglers while serving their jail term and as soon as they are released they take to smuggling activities in order to make fast buck, sources say. Yesterday, Kamaljit Singh and Sunil Kumar of Amritsar and Lopoke, respectively, had been arrested by the police when they returning from Naushehra Dhalla village after taking a consignment of counterfeit currency and heroin smuggled from Pakistan. In March this year, State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), the counter intelligence wing of Punjab police in collaboration with the Border Security Force had arrested Shinder Singh of Ibban Kalan village with Rs 2 lakh in fake currency. From smuggling illicit liquor he had graduated to smuggling fake currency during his jail term at the Amritsar Central Jail. During this period, he came in contact with notorious smugglers. He was released about one and half year ago. Incidentally, SSOC had nabbed a number of notorious smugglers and put them behind bars had written a number of times to the government and the authorities concerned to make such arrangements in the jail that petty criminals do not mingle with these notorious smugglers. “However, nothing has been done in this regard so far as it seems next to impossible in the given conditions. The Central Jails, in Amritsar or other parts of Punjab, are crammed,” sources said. “The jail authorities do not even have enough staff to keep a strict vigil. There is a nexus of smugglers and criminals who are also equipped with mobile phones and other electronic gadgets,” sources add. These smugglers and dreaded criminals lodged in the jails have become guarantors for the new entrants in the illegal trade. They take their guarantee after which their contacts Pakistan based smugglers and bosses on this side of fence trust them and gave them consignments for smuggling. Rashpal Singh, Superintendent Jail, said whenever such a case is brought to their notice, we shift the smugglers or criminal to other jails.
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Booked in ‘false’ case; MLA offers to court arrest
Amritsar, December 5 However, no police official turned up today to arrest him at the spot wherein a large number of traders and supporters of the MLA had gathered. Later, it took the form of a rally. Joshi was booked in a case registered in connection with a spat between chemists and sale tax officials last week after he had intervened in the controversy surrounding the action of the sale tax department action against the chemist shop owners opposite Guru Nanak Dev Hospital here. On the other hand, the sale tax department employees continued their strike for the fifth consecutive day which they said will continue till the cross case registered against the employees is not cancelled. Addressing the gathering, he said it was mandatory for the raiding sale tax officials to conduct a raid in the presence of the president of the respective association. However, they (sale tax officials) bothered little to follow the instructions. “We urge the administration and government to cancel the FIRs registered against the chemist shop owner without any delay,” he said. Meanwhile, the government continued to incur huge losses in view of the pen down strike of excise and taxation employees and officials for the fifth consecutive day today. A senior official of the department, who preferred not to be named, said due to the strike, the government has incurred losses to several lakhs in last five days and if authorities failed to cancel the case against sale tax employees, it will cause further loss to the state exchequer. He said, “The sale tax officials did not collect the tax to the tune of Rs 70,000-80,000, which was supposed to be taken from the traders taking part in the just concluded five-day Punjab International Trade Expo- 2011 held at Ranjit Avenue here.” Surinder Duggal, general secretary, Punjab Chemist Association, said after the assurance given by the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to cancel the cases registered against the both parties, the traders have decided to open their establishments. “We have assured the government and excise and taxation department of full cooperation. Hopefully, the cordial relations of both the groups will resume soon and both will forget this bitter episode,” said Duggal.
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Buyers go for cheaper the better at trade expo
Amritsar, December 5 Afghanistan’s Mohammad Ishaq said, “Unlike the sale of their carpets in Mumbai, Delhi and Chandigarh, a negligible number of customers procured these finest woollen hand-made carpets.” He said it seemed that a majority of the people did not understand their true worth. He said the best of silk carpets were manufactured in Iran and Kashmir in India whereas the best of woollen carpets were made in Afghanistan. He said Uzbeg women in the province of Faryab, close to Russia, in Afghanistan are engaged in making the best of traditional woollen carpets. Cheapest carpet of 2.6x4 feet in his stock comes for Rs 5,000 while the costliest of 6x9 feet at Rs 1 lakh. Similarly, a local manufacturer and trader Harinder Grover of Grover Impex said there were not many takers for her stall as her firm produced only quality quilts bedcover, curtain and sofa fabrics. She said the lowest price range of an article in her stall was of an ordinary bed sheet at Rs 500. On the other hand, the costliest was a Rs 10,000 bed sheet. Stalls of Bihar Handicraft recorded impressive sale. Agrima Foundation’s Chairwoman and founder Sujata Kumari said bags, fancy purses and jewellery, all made from jute, found favour with the visitors for daily use, durability and minimum cost. She said stone work also remained a hit. She said the cost of some of these items was as low as Rs 10 while the highest was of jewellery set made out of jute at Rs 1,000. Mohammad Azim of Lahore was very happy with the response of visitors for his ladies suits and sarees. He said with the brand name of Liza Traders he has been selling saris and suits with hand work in exhibitions at Delhi for the past 12 years. He said he had almost exhausted all his stocks and would come next year with double the stock to sell in the local market. He said he managed to extract profit and could comfortably bear the cost of US dollar 1,300 to set up a stall, the charge is levied on foreign traders. Meanwhile, the stall of International Tractors Limited, the flagship company of Hoshiarpur based Rs 5,000-crore Sonalika group, which displayed a range of tractors attracted a large number of visitors. Sonalika stall was conferred with the ‘Best Footfall’ award at the PITEX. Chief Secretary, Industry & Committee, SC Agrawal, also the Chairman of PITEX, conferred the prize to Chief Area Manager, International Tractors Limited, Baljinder Sisodia. Sisodia said the stall witnessed a footfall of over 10,000 in five days. The company displayed premium tractor models.
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Business convention centre; CM to hold meet on Dec 11
Amritsar, December 5 He made the announcement while addressing the Valedictory Ceremony of PHD-Punjab International Trade Expo (PITEX). He arrived at the venue at least half an hour in advance from the stipulated time of 10 am and left the venue immediately after finishing his speech. He called upon the governments of India and Pakistan to collaborate and open trade through the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post. He said, “Trade in Punjab on both sides of the border could survive and flourish only when restrictions are relaxed.” He said five years ago, Punjab faced a power shortage of 30 per cent. “With the new thermal power plants likely to get operational within the next year and a half, Punjab will be a power surplus state.” Industries and Commerce Secretary Dr SS Channy said Punjab being a landlocked state, the international border with Pakistan was the only promising trade route which could be a gateway to the Gulf countries in the times to come. With Punjab having a strong base for industry, agriculture, raw materials and Gulf countries being importers of such things, which they procure at exorbitant rates from Europe and other countries, the opening up of the borders will help the Gulf countries and in turn the local traders, he said. PHD Chamber president Salil Bhandari said the focus of PHD Chamber is on the socio-economic development of all the states with the main focus being on education, health, housing and infrastructure. PITEX, he said, is the annual flagship event which aims to make Amritsar hub of international economic activity. Punjab Committee, PHD Chamber chairman Rajiv Bali said the sixth edition of PHD-PITEX, PITEX, 2011, had generated business enquiries worth more than Rs 210 crore. During the five day mega event, industry associations from Punjab had detailed meetings with the representatives of the 11 visiting Chambers of Commerce and Industry from Pakistan. He said over 2.5 lakh visitors had come to the trade fair. The award for highest footfall category went to International Tractors Limited while the award for best display went to Kajaria Tiles, Pak World was given the prize for the best international exhibitor.
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Here business is mixed with pleasure
Amritsar, December 5 The Globex or the international arcade at the PITEX was the most popular in terms of cultural and business exchange. The stall owners who came from Afghanistan, Egypt, Thailand and UAE not only treated the Amritsaris with their goodies but also their culture. “Past five days have been totally amazing in terms of business and pleasure.
It’s our first visit to the city and we thoroughly enjoyed the enthusiasm of the locals,” said Samyos, owner of Zen Forum from Bangkok. He brought a collection of designer lamps and lights and what he loved most about the city was “its food.” “Well, the city is similar to ours as it has got delicious street food and it is full of life,” he said. He made sure to merge business with pleasure and visited some of the tourist attractions after pack up. “The Golden temple is amazing. You feel so peaceful after going there,” he added. Rattana Chinburarat, from Creation World Wild Wood, Thailand said, “People here are so warm, you don’t have any difficulty dealing with them. In fact, they behave in a way that they are not just costumers but friends. But sometimes it becomes tough when they ask for discounts,” she said. Coming from similar cultural backgrounds, the Pakistani exhibitors had the best time. But their fellow exhibitors from Egypt had some cultural reservations. While the Lotus Egypt stall saw a heavy rush, on the other hand they were shy in posing before the media. No posing for the cameras and no interactions apart from business queries, keeping their maiden visit strictly business. “No thanks” was the reply when we asked for their names. “PITEX has become synonymous with trade development in this region but for any commercial activity to become success, people to people interaction is very important. Their cultural background, eating habits, language and mannerisms are all a part of the exchange and this is what has happened here as well,” said Dalip Sharma, regional director, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Business delegates from Botswana and Ghana who had come for a seminar enjoyed the cultural performances at PITEX by local artists.
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Footbridge a hurdle for traffic
Amritsar, December 5 The traffic cops deployed at this point have miserable failed to compell the people take the over bridge route. At present, hoardings and small time traders have installed their shops on the stairs, crowding the footbridge. Residents said only a handful of passengers use the overbridge. Besides, the footbridge is located next to the famous Landa Bazaar, known for foreign-made products. The market attracts a large number of shoppers. A subway could have served the purpose to ease the flow of traffic here, said residents. NS Gabhria, a retired railway official, said the location of the footbridge at the entrance of the
station was wrong. “It was necessary to have the bridge at the exit point of thestation. Passengers going out from a station is generally more than passengers coming in. A train drops off many people at a time. Now, at the entrance point, there occurs a chaos every day,” he said. “In metros, the mechanism is that there would be separate staircases for passengers who are entering and those who are leaving,” he added. Jagdish Singh, a middle-aged resident, resented that the auto drivers here obstruct the passage towards the bridge, making it impossible for the passengers to step on the bridge. “It is the duty of policemen to ensure that autos do not over crowd the area,” he said. Passengers prefer not to use the bridge as they carry luggages with them. “The authorities should have installed escalators here,” they said. “I will instruct the SHO of the police station of the area to gauge the issue and report back to me. The traffic cops deputed there would be directed to remove the congestion and to ensure that the auto-drivers or rickshaw pullers should not make it as their halt spot. Even if the area falls under the jurisdiction of the GRPF, I would deliberate with them over the matter,” said RP
Mittal, Police Commissioner, Amritsar.
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Ministerial staff resume work
Amritsar, December 5 Trying to get the anomaly rectified for the past fortnight said the strike had put chances of his son appearing for his first year BE (electronics) examination starting from December 7. Serpentine queues were witnessed in front of the windows and outside the government office. With this hustle and bustle returned to the state offices which were listless during the week long strike. Hundreds of candidates had been waiting for the resumption of work at Tehsil complex to apply for vacancies of linemen in the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). One of them was Jitpal Singh of Nawa Pind who had been trying to get an affidavit made to be enclosed with his application form.
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Protesting against the cases registered against him and his supporter in connection with the raids by the sale tax department on several chemist shops on Majitha road, Anil Joshi, MLA from North constituency today offered to court arrest.
The just concluded PITEX 2011 was not only about Business to Business interaction and trade development. The underlying sentiment behind the biggest consumer extravaganza in Amritsar was cultural exchange through economics. Besides umpteen business and trade forums at the venue, it also became a platform for a people-to-people contact, feel international visitors who set up their stalls at the
PITEX.
Amritsar, December 5
