Chandigarh: Apna Punjab Media: The six-member team of the 16th Finance Commission of the Government of India reached Chandigarh today under the leadership of Chairman Arvind Panagariya. Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema welcomed the team members at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Airport. The state government has high expectations from the team of the 16th Finance Commission, before whom Finance Minister Cheema will present his case and demand a special package for Punjab. Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that Punjab has full hope that a big package will be given to the state by the Finance Commission.
It is noteworthy that the 15th Finance Commission team had given post-devaluation revenue deficit grant of Rs 25,968 crore to Punjab. According to the information received, the team of the 16th Finance Commission will hold a meeting in Chandigarh from morning to evening on July 22. In this, the state government will first present its side through a presentation before the Finance Commission. After this, the Finance Commission team members will talk to the officials of the Local Government Department and Panchayat Department. Later in the evening the Finance Commission will hold a meeting with the leaders of political parties. Leaders of Aam Aadmi Party, Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, Bahujan Samaj Party and BJP will be included in it. A team of Finance Commission will visit Amritsar on 23 July. Meanwhile, the members of the Finance Commission will also hold a meeting with representatives of business and industry.