To make Punjabis proficient in English, Badal wants British teachers

Punjab students, especially those in rural areas, could soon be dealing in the Queen's language if Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has his way.

Badal on Wednesday urged British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond to send a delegation of English school teachers Britain to make students in Punjab, especially with rural background, "proficient in spoken as well as written English".

The request was made when the visiting British foreign secretary, who inaugurated the country's deputy high commission here, called on Badal on Wednesday.

Badal said the significance of the English language was that it was a "global link" of communication in the world.

Both leaders discussed cooperation between Britain and Punjab in the fields of skill development, food processing and power generation from solar and biomass waste.

A significant number of Punjabis are settled in Britain since decades.