Ludhiana — Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann officially launched the new Punjab Industrial Policy on Saturday during a high-profile meeting with industry leaders in Ludhiana. The Chief Minister emphasized that the state government is moving away from the era of corruption and bribery, stating that his administration does not seek shares or “red bags” from businesses but rather focuses on fostering an environment where industries can flourish and provide meaningful employment to the youth of Punjab. Mann described the new policy as a “runway” designed to let the industrial sector take flight and reach new heights.
The policy was developed through an extensive consultative process involving twenty-four separate committees and incorporating nearly seventy-eight percent of the suggestions provided by local entrepreneurs. Industry Minister Sanjeev Arora highlighted that the Punjab Development Commission utilized artificial intelligence and expert departmental analysis to ensure the framework is the most progressive in the country. A major component of the plan includes the introduction of capital subsidies for the first time in the province and a total exemption for Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems to encourage sustainable manufacturing.
Key incentives within the policy are aimed at significantly boosting the IT and manufacturing sectors over a fifteen-year period. Companies that invest twenty-five crore rupees and maintain at least fifty employees will now fall into a priority threshold category for benefits. Furthermore, the government has announced direct employment subsidies, offering three thousand rupees per worker per month for general industry and five thousand rupees per worker for the IT sector. In a bid to strengthen regional development, industries established in border districts will receive an additional twenty-five percent in incentives.
Addressing the gathered business leaders, Chief Minister Mann noted that industrial development is the cornerstone of the “Rangla Punjab” vision. He praised entrepreneurs as “annadatas” (providers) who sustain thousands of households through employment. Mann also announced that Tata Steel is set to inaugurate its massive thirty-two hundred crore rupee plant in Ludhiana on March 20, marking a major milestone in the state’s industrial journey. He teased a significant “gift” for women in the province to be announced tomorrow in honour of International Women’s Day.
The Chief Minister concluded by reiterating the government’s commitment to skill development, noting that Punjab’s engineers already hold prestigious positions at global firms like Boeing. He vowed that the administration would remain flexible, promising to amend any part of the policy that public interest or practical challenges might require in the future. By unifying the departments of electricity, industry, and local government under a single umbrella, the state aims to streamline administrative processes and accelerate the pace of economic progress.
