Punjab sets 7-day deadline for trader grievances; CM Mann, Kejriwal to lead business outreach meetings
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, June 5, 2026: In a major push to improve ease of doing business and strengthen engagement with the trading community, Punjab Finance, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday directed all departments to ensure that traders’ grievances are resolved within seven days.
Chairing a high-level review meeting of the Punjab State Traders Commission (PSTC) at Punjab Bhawan, Cheema announced that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal will personally preside over trader interaction meetings starting next week to directly address business concerns and strengthen the grievance redressal mechanism.
The meeting reviewed the status of complaints received through the PSTC and the progress made in resolving them. As Chairman of the Commission, Cheema instructed all concerned departments to continuously monitor the designated grievance portal and ensure that every complaint is addressed within a week.
To expedite decision-making and reduce bureaucratic delays, the Finance Minister ordered the creation of secretary-level WhatsApp groups and directed all departments to appoint dedicated nodal officers at their headquarters for faster coordination and resolution of issues raised by traders.
In another significant decision, Cheema directed Special DGP (Law and Order) P.K. Sinha to establish a dedicated state-level grievance cell to handle security and law-and-order issues affecting the business community. The proposed cell will function as a centralized platform for immediate intervention in trader-related concerns requiring police or administrative action.
The Finance Minister also emphasized greater participation from traders in district-level meetings. He ordered that notices and invitations for such meetings be issued at least one week in advance and publicized widely to ensure maximum attendance and meaningful engagement.
Earlier, PSTC Vice Chairman Anil Thakur and other commission members shared feedback and suggestions received from traders across the state.
The meeting was attended by senior officials including Financial Commissioner Taxation Ajit Balaji Joshi, Special DGP P.K. Sinha, Director Food and Civil Supplies B. Srinivasan, Taxation Commissioner Jatindera Jorwal, PSTC Secretary Puneet Goel, Director Local Bodies A.S. Brar, Special Secretary Labour Ravinder Singh, and representatives from various government departments.
The latest measures are aimed at making grievance redressal more responsive, improving coordination between departments, and creating a more business-friendly environment for Punjab’s trading community.