Given his rising status in international cricket, Punjab Chief Electoral Officer’s office has designated Indian cricketer Shubman Gill as a “state icon” for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

In a statement, Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C said on Monday that Gill will engage in various campaigns aimed at voter awareness to ensure a voting percentage of 70 per cent. The poll panel has set the target of “Is Vaar 70 Paar”. Punjab had recorded a voter turnout of 65.96 in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls for the 13 seats.

The CEO said Gill, popular among sports enthusiasts, especially the youth, has been appointed as a “state icon” for the polls. He said that in a meeting with all deputy commissioners of Punjab on Friday, they were asked to identify such areas where the voting percentage was low during the last elections.

The officer said that awareness campaigns and appeals made by Shubman Gill in such areas would motivate the voters and help increase the turnout. Earlier, popular Punjabi singer Tarsem Jassar had been selected as a ‘state icon’ and he too would conduct similar campaigns, he said.

The CEO expressed hope that the first-time voters would be influenced by Shubman Gill and Tarsem Jassar, and exercise their franchise, while also appealing to the people of other age groups to vote in large numbers.

16 pc increase in stamp sale and registration revenue within a month in Pb

Chandigarh: The Punjab government has registered 16.83 percent more income under the head "stamp and registration" in just one month, Revenue Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa said on Monday, adding that  the revenue of the state is continuously increasing due to transparent, hassle-free and corruption-free services to the people of the state.  Jimpa said that in January 2024, the state exchequer received an income of Rs 376.16 crore under stamp and registration, which is 16.83 percent more than January 2023. In January 2023, this income was Rs 321.96 crore.