Punjab is extremely hopeful that Bathinda would emerge as a venue of one of the three Pharmaceutical Parks in India, which will go a long way in rooting out the stranglehold of Chinese medicine manufacturing sector, averred Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal while addressing the media at Bathinda.The Finance Minister said, Bathinda is an ideal location in North-Western India, adding that Bathinda is a place that can ensure ease of access to Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and other northern states. Punjab has great potential to play a pivotal role in medicine manufacturing sector.Enumerating the benefits of Bathinda's geographical location, he stated that 1300 acres of land, on which the erstwhile thermal plant was commissioned, is now available for establishing the specialized Pharma Park. Further, the Bathinda oil refinery is a great asset as many products and byproducts of the refinery are similar to the pharma industry. Additionally, Bathinda has the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), besides the road, rail, and air connectivity. The railway facilities that were previously used for the thermal plant can be utilized in the pharma industry for to and fro traffic, he added.Mr. Badal said that according to the Union Government's announcement that they will invest Rs.1000 crore and expect the state government to finance the remaining amount, Punjab is earnestly hoping that the Union Government would establish a pharmaceutical plant in Bathinda. This will not only contribute towards the local economy of Malwa region, but also change the entire face of industry in the state of Punjab, he added.