Punjab provided over 68,000 Govt jobs, generated 6.36 lakh private-sector jobs in 4.5 yrs: Aman Arora
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, August 5, 2026: Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training, and Industries and Commerce Minister Aman Arora on Wednesday said the Bhagwant Mann-led government had provided more than 68,000 government jobs, attracted investments worth ₹1.83 lakh crore and facilitated the creation of over 6.36 lakh private-sector jobs during its four-and-a-half-year tenure.
Winding up the discussion on a resolution on employment opportunities moved by MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Arora said the investment inflows had generated employment opportunities directly and indirectly across various sectors.
He cited the example of Japanese steel company AICHI Steel, which, he said, increased its proposed investment in Punjab from ₹500 crore to ₹1,100 crore after being impressed by the state government’s facilitation measures and ease of doing business.
During the debate, Arora challenged Congress MLA Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia over his claim that no resident of the Shahkot Assembly constituency had received a government job.
“I am ready to visit Shahkot and ask the people whether they have received government jobs. If I am proven wrong, I will resign as a minister and MLA. If I am right, Laddi should resign,” Arora said.
According to the Minister, Laddi did not accept the challenge.
Arora asserted that government jobs had been provided strictly on merit and without bribery or political recommendations.
Highlighting the government’s focus on skill development, he said the Punjab Budget had allocated ₹25 crore for the Skill Development Mission, compared with ₹10 crore earlier. He claimed that more than 22 lakh young people had been supported through placement camps, job fairs and other employment assistance initiatives.
At a recent mega job fair in Sunam, 61 companies participated and issued on-the-spot job offer letters to nearly 700 young people, he said.
Arora also announced that the state government was establishing a ₹100-crore Sant Attar Singh Maharaj Armed Forces Preparatory Institute in Sangrur district. The institute is expected to train around 500 young people annually for officer-level positions in the armed forces.
Citing central government data, Arora said Punjab’s unemployment rate among people aged 15 to 29 had declined from 19.1 per cent in 2022 to 17 per cent in 2025. He also referred to the Periodic Labour Force Survey, claiming that Punjab had recorded improvements in key employment indicators.
The Minister said governments could not guarantee employment to every individual and that their primary responsibility was to create a favourable environment for industries, entrepreneurship and job creation.
“We are not here merely to present numbers. We are creating an ecosystem in which every young person can stand on their own feet,” he said.
Responding to the Opposition’s demand for a white paper on employment, Arora said the government’s performance could be assessed directly by the people.
Taking a swipe at the previous Congress government’s ‘Har Ghar Naukri’ promise, Arora alleged that it had failed to deliver on its commitment to Punjab’s youth.
He said the AAP government’s objective was to make Punjab a model for ease of doing business and promote dignified, skill-based employment opportunities across the state.