Pakistan has announced it will consider issuing a visa to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should he choose to travel to the country. The statement was delivered by Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan during a weekly media briefing.
Invitation to Lahore and Official Response
The development follows comments made by Mann on October 23, in which he stated he had received an invitation to attend the World Punjabi Conference scheduled in Lahore on November 27. While expressing an appreciation for the shared cultural ties, the Aam Aadmi Party leader publicly questioned whether the Indian government would grant him permission to make the cross-border trip.
Addressing the inquiry during the briefing, Khan noted that Pakistani authorities would review a visa application if submitted, while clarifying that New Delhi's decision on whether to permit Mann's travel remains an internal matter for Indian authorities.
Religious Pilgrimages and Regional Context
In addition to addressing the Chief Minister's potential visit, Pakistani officials highlighted their ongoing facilitation of religious tourism. The Foreign Office reported that thousands of visas have been issued to Indian pilgrims—including Sikhs and Hindus—to visit shrines in Pakistan, and expressed readiness to further accommodate pilgrims if restrictions on corridors like Kartarpur Sahib are lifted.
