Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh

Punjab Finance and Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Sunday claimed that the state has witnessed a historic improvement in tax collection under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, while accusing the previous Congress government of poor financial management.

Addressing the media, Cheema said that during the Congress government's five-year tenure, Punjab collected only ₹64,000 crore in GST revenue, whereas the AAP government has collected nearly ₹94,000 crore in just four years, setting a new benchmark in the state's tax collection.

He further stated that Punjab's treasury has been witnessing an annual increase of more than ₹10,000 crore in tax revenue. The government has set a target of ₹32,000 crore in GST collection for the current financial year.

"The figures clearly show that the people of Punjab are supporting an honest government, and every rupee collected as tax is reaching the state treasury transparently," Cheema said.

The Finance Minister emphasized that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has directed all departments to ensure that every rupee deposited in the state treasury is spent transparently on public welfare and development.

Highlighting the government's achievements, Cheema said that the improved financial position has enabled the state to accelerate several development projects, including:

  • Construction and repair of 45,000 kilometres of roads across Punjab.

  • Modernisation of government schools with smart classrooms, advanced laboratories, libraries, and playgrounds.

  • Completion of over 3,000 playgrounds in villages, while work is underway on 6,000 additional playgrounds.

Cheema also asserted that the AAP government has fulfilled all five major guarantees promised to the people of Punjab during the Assembly elections, nearly eight months before the completion of its tenure.

He said the final guarantee, the "Mawan-Dhiyan Satkar Yojana," has also been implemented, with financial assistance already released to eligible beneficiaries, bringing relief and happiness to women and girls across the state.

Concluding his remarks, Cheema thanked AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for their leadership and guidance, stating that the government's focus remains on transparent governance, fiscal discipline, and people-centric development.