Shimla, Aug. 25 -- The state government is striving to establish the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) in Bilaspur, said town and country planning, housing, technical education and industrial training Rajesh Dharmani, while speaking at the general house meeting of Bilaspur Vyapar Mandal on Sunday.

He added that soon, all legislators from the district, cutting across party lines, will jointly meet Union health minister Jagat Prakash Nadda to press for the institute's sanction in Bilaspur. "The development of the district is our sole objective, beyond political affiliations," Dharmani remarked.

Dharmani acknowledged that with the development of the four-lane highway, commercial activities in Swarghat, Bar...