By IANS,
Mohali : The Punjab government Monday urged residents of Mohali to accommodate Pakistanis coming here to see the World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan Wednesday.
“We appeal local residents to spare rooms for the Pakistani guests since hotel accommodations are completely sold out. We are setting up a control room so that anyone willing to give out rooms can contact us,” Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal told reporters.
Punjab government officials will also volunteer rooms for the Pakistani guests, he said.
Badal said a delegation of around 100 people would be coming with Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
A Pakistani journalist told Badal that police had not allowed him to stay in a Chandigarh hotel as he had visa only for Mohali.
The journalist, who did not want to be named, said that in the past Pakistanis were allowed to stay in Chandigarh even if the visa was issued for Mohali only.
Badal said the matter fell within the domain of the external affairs ministry. “I will still talk to the union government,” said Badal, who is also the home minister.
The PCA Monday sent 200 complimentary passes to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to enable Pakistani fans to watch the match.
“Earlier, we had sent them 50 tickets. Now we have sent 200 passes to enable maximum number of Pakistani fans to witness the match at Mohali,” said PCA president I.S. Bindra.