New Delhi: Pakistan has indicated that it is willing to consider granting a visa to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann if he wishes to attend the upcoming World Punjabi Conference in Lahore. However, his proposed visit would also depend on approval from the Indian government.
Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan addressed the matter during his weekly media briefing on Friday. Responding to a question about Mann's possible visit, Khan said Islamabad would consider his visa application if the Punjab Chief Minister decided to travel to Pakistan.
He clarified, however, that permission from Pakistan would not automatically mean Mann could make the journey, as clearance from the Indian government would also be required.
The development comes after Mann announced on October 23 that he had received an invitation to participate in the World Punjabi Conference, scheduled to take place in Lahore on November 27.
Reacting to the invitation, Mann highlighted the cultural and linguistic connections shared by people on both sides of the border. He noted that several Punjabi poets were also expected to attend the gathering.
"Our culture is the same. Many poets from here will go there," Mann had said.
Mann Expresses Interest in Visiting Kartarpur Sahib
Apart from attending the conference, the Punjab Chief Minister has also spoken about his desire to take members of the Punjab Legislative Assembly to Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan if the corridor is reopened for pilgrims.
The Kartarpur Corridor links Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab, India, with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan. The shrine holds immense religious significance for Sikhs as it is associated with Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism.
The corridor was established to allow Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit the shrine without requiring a conventional visa, under a special travel arrangement.
However, pilgrim movement through the corridor from the Indian side has remained suspended since May 7, 2025, following India's military action against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor. The operation came in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
During the briefing, Khan maintained that Pakistan remained committed to facilitating religious visits and welcomed pilgrims of different faiths to its sacred sites.
He stated that Pakistan had issued more than 9,000 visas to Indian religious pilgrims in 2025, covering Sikh and Hindu devotees. Additionally, over 4,000 visas were granted to Sikh pilgrims during the first six months of the year.
Khan also said Pakistan was looking forward to receiving a large number of Sikh devotees at Nankana Sahib later in November to commemorate the 557th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
Highlighting the importance of the Kartarpur Corridor, the spokesperson described it as a significant initiative designed to make religious travel easier for Sikh devotees. According to him, the arrangement had previously enabled thousands of pilgrims to visit the shrine and return to India on the same day.
Khan also referred to the 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines between India and Pakistan, which provides a framework for religious pilgrimages between the two neighbouring countries.
Beyond Sikh and Hindu religious sites, he highlighted Pakistan's efforts to protect its Buddhist heritage. These initiatives include the preservation of historic locations such as Taxila and Takht-i-Bahi, along with the establishment of a dedicated task force for safeguarding Buddhist heritage.
While Pakistan has expressed its willingness to consider Mann's visa request, the possibility of his Lahore visit remains dependent on the necessary clearances from both sides. Whether the Punjab Chief Minister will ultimately attend the conference is yet to be determined.