Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister, Haryana, stated this while talking to media persons after returning from Pakistan here today. He had gone to participate in the four-day Jashn-e-Bahar Basant (spring) festival in Lahore along with 24-member group of his state.

Chaudhary Pervez Elahi, Chief Minister, West Punjab (Pakistan), had assured Mr Chautala that his government would develop the district accordingly. Mr Chautala had donated Rs 1 lakh for the temple from his personal earning.

The ancient temple is linked with the Mahabharata period. A tale has it that the questioning session between the Pandavas and the Yaksha had taken place here.

Satisfied with his visit to Pakistan, the Haryana Chief Minister said he and other members of the delegation were immensely happy after participating in the spring festival. He said warmth and affection of the people in Pakistan was overwhelming.

Avoiding any query on the Haryana elections, Mr Chautala requested that questions should be asked regarding his Pakistan visit only.

He said that he would soon meet Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister, to urge him to relax visa rules for the citizens of both the neighbouring countries. He opined that commerce and cultural activities could take the relations of the two countries to new heights.

He said that due to some incomplete paper work his gifts, including a buffalo, a tractor and a bike, could not reach Pakistan.

Mr Chautala had offered assistance of his state to Pakistan’s Punjab in the information technology sector. He extended this offer to Information Technology Minister Aleem Khan, who had hosted a reception for him and his troupe in Lahore last evening.

He said that Mr Khan had evinced a keen interest in his proposal and had stressed the need for cooperation between Pakistan and India in the IT sector. The cooperation in this sector could open new avenues of economic progress and prosperity in the region, he said.

Mr Chautala said that both countries could learn from each other’s technical and professional experience in many sectors. They could also ensure better job opportunities for their people through joint planning, he added.

He said Mr Khan felt that development of information technology in Haryana, especially in Gurgaon, had set an example for Pakistan.

Mr Chautala also met the World Punjabi Congress delegation led by Fakhar Zaman. He believed that the body had played a vital role in bringing people of both countries closer.

He said he had accepted the invitation of Mr Zaman to participate in the next feature of the World Punjabi Conference scheduled to be held in Lahore in April.