To increase more employment opportunities, Punjab Government is reviewing the provision of an extension of retirement age for two years, over and above the age of 58.
“The Government is mulling a policy change to fix 58 as the retirement age to generate more employment opportunities for the State’s youth but the issue is still being discussed,” said Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday during a media interaction after casting his vote for the presidential election at the Vidhan Sabha.
He said that the matter was being reviewed and a policy decision would be taken only after detailed analysis of the implications of any change with regard to the existing policy.
ON SYl CANAl
Chief Minister maintained that Punjab had been engaged in talks with the Centre to find an early and amicable solution of the Sutlej-Yamuna-link (SYl) canal issue. He said that the State Government had requested the Union Water Resources Ministry to assess the existing quantum of river water before the issue was finally adjudicated upon. At the same time, he denied having discussed the SYl issue with the Prime Minister, saying that no talks had yet been convened on the issue.
ON NEW TAXES
Reacting on the possibility of imposition of any new taxes, Captain Amarinder said that the State Government was trying to mobilise additional financial resources to narrow the widening budget deficit and the Finance Minister Manpreet Badal was working in it.
ON GURDASPUR BYPOll
Capt Amarinder said that there had been no discussion on the name of Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar, so far, for Gurdaspur parliamentary seat, which has fallen vacant due to the demise of BJP MP Vinod Khanna.