AMRITSAR: Amritsar Vikas Manch (NGO) has urged Punjab Government and Deputy commissioner Amritsar to take up matter to initiate Amritsar-Vancouver flight by Air Canada with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper during his visit in Amritsar.

Harper visit this holy city on November 18. In a letter to Harper, NGO patron Dr. Charanjit Singh Gumtala stated that there are four hundred thousand Punjabi Indians living in Vancouver British Columbia.

Similarly there are two hundred thousand Punjabi Indians living in the adjoining San Francisco area and one hundred thousand Punjabi Indians are living in the Los Angeles area. If Air Canada fly from Vancouver to Amritsa,, it can carry the Punjabi passengers from all the major cities of the West Coast of North America notably San Francisco and Los Angeles to Amritsar.

Dr. Singh said that at present there was no direct flight from Vancouver to Amritsar which now has brand new International Airport. It will not only give Canada big business but also prove to be boon for the Punjabi populace who usually visit their roots in Punjab quite often to seek blessings at Harmandar Sahib popularly known as Golden Temple.

Dr. Singh has said that his NGO extends heartiest welcome to Harper during his visit to Amritsar on 18th November 2009. Dr. Gumtala stated that his visit to Amritsar will further enlighten him on the rich history, culture and conventions of the Punjabi community which now forms an important section of Canadian polity.