JALANDHAR, Aug. 22, 2025 — British MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi on Friday met Punjab’s Minister for Industry, Commerce, Investment Promotion and NRI Affairs Sanjeev Arora in Jalandhar to deliberate on issues concerning overseas Punjabis, ranging from property disputes and safety concerns to aviation connectivity and trade opportunities.
The leaders were received by Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal and SGPC Executive Committee member Paramjit Singh Raipur, a former chairman of the Jalandhar Improvement Trust.
Dhesi, who recently secured a third term as Member of Parliament for Slough, was also chosen as Chairman of the UK Parliament’s Defence Committee — the first ethnic minority MP to hold the powerful post.
During the hour-long meeting, Dhesi flagged the pressing problem of land disputes and cases of extortion affecting NRIs. “These matters are of huge concern to overseas Punjabis. There must be an effective mechanism to protect their interests,” he said. He urged the state government to establish a single-window system that could both handle NRI grievances and assist investors by easing bureaucratic hurdles.
Flight connectivity was another key issue raised. Dhesi renewed his appeal for more direct flights from London, Birmingham and other European destinations, as well as from North America and Asia, to Amritsar and Chandigarh. “This will connect the Punjabi diaspora directly with their homeland, while also strengthening trade and tourism,” he said, calling on both Punjab and Indian governments to invest in developing the state’s aviation sector.
Dhesi also pressed for the reopening of the International Cargo Port in Amritsar, closed after recent India-Pakistan tensions, and sought the restoration of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor. He described both as vital for Punjabis on both sides of the border.
The MP further raised long-pending matters such as the release of political prisoners who have completed their sentences and the case of British national Jagtar Singh Johal. “People of Punjabi heritage across the world want to see Punjab progress, and we hope these issues are taken seriously by the government and relevant authorities,” he said.
Minister Arora welcomed the suggestions and assured cooperation in addressing the concerns of NRIs and the Punjabi diaspora.
