On the directions of the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, the state Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal was specially deputed to receive the Punjabis returning from strife torn Iraq in special flight and ensure their hassle free immigration clearance here at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that out of 19 Punjabis who arrived at IGI Airport, 12 reached in a special flight of Sharjah Airline and seven came along with 46 nurses in an Indian Airline Chartered plane. The Chief Secretary accompanied by the Resident Commissioner Punjab Bhawan, New Delhi Mr. K Siva Prasad had been personally overseeing the procedure of immigration clearance at IGI Airport’s immigration section to ensure that none of any Punjabi, who returned from Iraq face any sort of harassment at the hands of authorities, because majority of Indians returning from Iraq were not having valid documents/ immigration papers in possession. The spokesperson further said that the Chief Secretary was in constant touch with the officials of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Indian embassy in Iraq to ensure safe evacuation of Punjabis stuck up there.
The spokesperson further said that two senior officers from Punjab Bhawan New Delhi have been deputed at IGI Airport Immigration section, 24X7 to ensure hassle free Immigration clearance of all the Punjabis returning from Iraq. Reiterating the Chief Minister’s firm commitment to bring all the Punjabis trapped in war torn Iraq the spokesperson said that the state administration was making all out efforts for this and hopefully more Punjabis were expected to land tomorrow at IGI Airport. The spokesperson said that elaborate arrangements for their comfortable stay, food besides medical aid, if needed, had been made in the Punjab Bhawan to make them comfortable and relaxed. Apart from these free transport arrangement for their return to native places were also ensured by the officials of Punjab Bhawan. It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had already announced a financial assistance of Rs 20000 per month for the families of 40 Punjabis stuck up in Mosul region in Iraq.