Chandigarh, Aug 18 (IANS) The Punjab government Wednesday approved the merger of the Northern Indian Institute of Fashion Technology (NIIFT) based at Mohali, 10 km from here, with the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi.

NIIFT, run by the state government, and its centres in Ludhiana and Jalandhar will also merge with NIFT.

The decision was taken at a high level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

The state government also approved to provide Rs.48 crore over a period of three years to NIFT along with the immediate transfer of the existing infrastructure available with NIIFT. The infrastructure is valued at Rs.12 crore.