At the DAWK Business Summit 2026, Amandeep Singh Paapi, Founder & Group CEO of DAWK Media Network—which operates prominent digital news verticals including The DAWK, Punjab Post Channel, and News Next—engaged in a high-profile dialogue with Sardar Tarunpreet Singh Sond, Cabinet Minister for Rural Development, Panchayats, and Power, Punjab. The conversation centered on strengthening Punjab’s business infrastructure, facilitating global investments, and modernizing the state’s power grid to support growing industries.
Aligning Power Infrastructure with Modern Business Needs
Opening the dialogue, Amandeep Singh Paapi highlighted the evolving demands of modern industry, noting that reliable power is no longer just a requirement for traditional manufacturing, but also a core prerequisite for high-tech sectors like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital banking networks.
Responding to concerns regarding power reliability during adverse weather—particularly in key industrial clusters like Ludhiana, Khanna, and Mandi Gobindgarh—Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond outlined the government’s aggressive infrastructure upgrades.
“Power is the backbone of industry. Whether we speak of AI infrastructure or heavy manufacturing, power reliability is non-negotiable.”
— Tarunpreet Singh Sond, Minister for Power, Punjab
Key Infrastructure Initiatives Highlighted:
RDSS Scheme Investment: Allocation of over ₹320 crore specifically toward grid upgrades, transformer expansion, and line stabilization in Ludhiana.
ORP Scheme Investment: Deployment of ₹270 crore to increase transformer capacity and eliminate bottlenecks in industrial supply lines.
Profitability & Industry Benefits: Sond highlighted that state power distribution companies (DISCOMs) have achieved financial profitability while maintaining subsidized power tariffs for industries.
Streamlining Global Investment & Ease of Doing Business
During the conversation, Amandeep Singh Paapi brought attention to the perspectives of global investors, who evaluate Punjab alongside other competing states purely on infrastructural readiness, power surplus, and regulatory ease.
Minister Sond reassured the summit participants that the Punjab government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is focused on eliminating red tape for incoming businesses:
Dedicated Nodal Officers: The state government assigns single-window Nodal Officers to investors to shepherd projects through all departmental clearances smoothly.
Proactive Governance: Minister Sond noted that state leadership actively engages with industrial leaders directly to solve localized operational challenges.
Building a Resilient Future for Punjab’s Economy
The discussion concluded on an optimistic note regarding Punjab’s economic potential. Both speakers affirmed that collaboration between media networks, industry leaders, and policymakers will be essential as Punjab transitions toward energy-efficient, tech-enabled, and globally competitive manufacturing ecosystems.
