Chandigarh, June 11 -- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday urged the Centre to provide a special development package for border areas, grant special category status to Punjab, and extend enhanced financial assistance to the state, citing its strategic location along the India-Pakistan border and the unique challenges it faces.
Raising several long-pending issues at a meeting of NITI Aayog, Mann said Punjab shares a 553-kilometre international border with Pakistan, exposing the state to significant security, economic, and social pressures. He argued that Punjab deserves special consideration similar to that provided to hill and northeastern states, including a 90:10 funding pattern for key development projects.
The Chief Minist...