In a decisive push to reinforce trader confidence and institutionalise on-ground coordination, the Bhagwant Mann Government has moved to tighten the security grid around Punjab’s business community. Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday directed structured, real-time coordination between the Punjab State Traders Commission (PSTC), district and assembly-level trade committees and the police administration, making it clear that trader safety is non-negotiable and central to the state’s Ease of Doing Business framework.
Chairing a high-level video conference from Punjab Bhawan alongside Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav and Excise and Taxation Commissioner Jitendera Jorwal in his capacity as Chairman of the Punjab State Traders Commission, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema issued strict instructions to address security-related grievances of the trading community on priority.
He directed both the police administration and members of the Traders Commission and committees to strengthen their mutual synergy, and instructed district police administrations to continuously share action-taken reports directly with the DGP’s office. “The government intends to empower the Traders Commission and utilise it as a key vehicle to significantly improve police outreach to businessmen across the state,” said the Excise and Taxation Minister.
To ensure sustained ground-level action, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema directed all district police forces to maintain continuous dialogue with the Traders Commission and Committee members. He ordered that competent police officers must be consistently present at all Traders Commission and Committee meetings at constituency and district levels so that emerging challenges can be addressed and resolved on the spot.
“Any information shared by Traders Commission members or individual traders must be kept strictly confidential. The relevant police officers will bear full responsibility for the safety of informants, and any negligence in this duty will result in strict accountability,” said the Minister.
Minister Harpal Singh Cheema also urged office bearers of district and constituency-level traders’ committees to instil confidence among businessmen, assuring them that the government is actively working at their doorstep so they can share their problems without fear or hesitation. Echoing these views, DGP Gaurav Yadav appealed to members of the Trade Commission and Committees to act as a vital bridge between the state police and the business community.
“You must serve as the eyes and ears of the police force to deepen traders’ trust in the authorities at the grassroots level, thereby bolstering overall security. The police operate under a highly effective standard protocol, and the success rate of resolving cases is exceptionally high when actionable information is received in a timely manner,” he said.
The Punjab DGP directed all district police chiefs to maintain continuous and proactive communication with Traders Commission and Committee members and to reinforce the operational feedback mechanism. “It is absolutely necessary to maintain complete confidentiality regarding any intelligence or insights provided by Traders Commission or Committee members.
Members and the wider trading community must also avoid falling prey to or propagating unverified rumours,” he said. The meeting concluded on a positive note, with Traders Commission and District and Assembly level Committee members connected from district police headquarters across the state sharing constructive feedback with the Finance Minister and senior officers.
The representatives appreciated the CM Bhagwant Mann Government’s proactive efforts to cultivate a strong atmosphere of cooperation between the police and the business sector and assured the administration of their full support to ensure the success of the initiative.