Chandigarh, December 10
Leader of the Opposition, Partap Singh Bajwa, today said that while Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has projected his recent Japan and South Korea tour as a major investment breakthrough, several crucial questions remain unanswered, leaving Punjabis unsure about the real outcomes of the trip.
Bajwa said the state government continues to celebrate MoUs and photo-op meetings, but the people deserve clarity on how many of these announcements will translate into actual factories, jobs, and on-ground development. He said that past foreign trips produced big claims but very limited tangible results, and this tour appears no different unless the government makes full details public.
Raising a series of questions, Bajwa asked why the government has not released a project-wise timeline for the investment commitments showcased during the tour. He said that while an MoU between a Japanese steel company and a Punjab-based firm was highlighted, there is still no information on when production will start, how many youth will be employed, or where the project will be located. “Without timelines and job numbers, these remain announcements, not achievements,” he said.
Bajwa further questioned why the government has not clarified how many of the Korean companies expressing ‘interest’ have given concrete commitments. He said Punjab cannot run on expressions of interest and road-show presentations alone; citizens need verified figures, agreements, and execution schedules. He said it is equally important to disclose whether the districts chosen for these projects include backward and underdeveloped areas. “Industrial growth cannot remain limited to a few pockets while the rest of Punjab is ignored,” Bajwa added.
Bajwa also highlighted the absence of environmental and social impact assessments, particularly for large manufacturing and steel-sector projects. He said transparency on land use, pollution safeguards, and community engagement is essential before promising large-scale industrialisation. Bajwa demanded that the government immediately publish a comprehensive “Investment Outcome Report” detailing all MoUs, projected investment, employment numbers, district-wise allocation, and implementation timelines. He said only full transparency will allow Punjabis to judge whether the foreign tour was genuinely productive or merely another publicity exercise.
