MP to look into demand for convention centre

PITEX 2025 on Sunday saw over one lakh people turning out at the venue that seemed too congested as locals hoped to enjoy some food and shopping experience at the annual trade expo. Besides Amritsar, a large number of people from Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Jalandhar also drove down to experience the five-day annual trade expo, which is otherwise held at a bigger place in Ranjit Avenue Dussehra grounds.

Apart from the commoners, the event also hosted VIP guests with Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjeet Singh Sawhney and MLA Amritsar South Dr Inderbir Nijjer participating in different sessions. The PHD Chamber of Commerce has been continuously demanding a bigger, permanent convention centre to host such trade expos and events to manage the crowd and exhibition stalls and related events. Meanwhile, MP Sawhney assured the traders’ body that the matter would be taken up with required seriousness as he took notice of the arrangements.

The huge rush and vehicular congestion caused due to the event caused massive jams and clogged the inner roads leading to residential areas in the periphery. The entry to the event was also closed for some time to manage the crowd already present inside. On Saturday, it was reported that the event saw 100 exhibitors dropping out due to space constraints at the venue this year.

Karan Gilhotra, Chairman, PhD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Punjab Chapter, said that Amritsar is a tourist destination of international importance. “Devotees, who came from far and wide to pay obeisance at Darbar Sahib, also reached PITEX today. Here, people are getting a wide variety of household goods, apparels and furniture, all under one roof. Most exhibitors here give live demonstrations of their products to the consumers, and the food stalls were crowded as well,” he said.

People enjoyed themselves at various stalls in the food court that offered a wide variety of desi delicacies including Rajasthani, Punjabi and winter savouries. Meanwhile, Bharti Sood, senior regional director of PhD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, confirmed that around one and a half lakh tourists came here on Sunday. “This is a record in itself. Monday is the last day of the fair. In this case, the number of people who shop on the last day may increase,” she said.