Indian Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann says he has been invited to the World Punjabi Conference in Lahore, scheduled for November 27–29. He expressed interest in attending but questioned whether India’s central government would permit him to travel to Pakistan.
Lahore, Pakistan – WEB DESK: Indian Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has confirmed receiving an invitation to attend a Punjabi cultural conference in Lahore scheduled for November 27–29, saying he would like to visit but questioning whether India’s central government would permit the trip.
Mann disclosed the invitation during a session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Friday, October 23. He said the organisers had invited him to Lahore and offered to host him during the event.
The invitation has drawn attention because a visit by a sitting Indian chief minister would involve cross-border travel at a time when relations between India and Pakistan remain strained. Mann’s attendance has not been confirmed and would depend on the necessary permissions.
Mann questions whether travel permission will be granted
Speaking in the assembly, Mann referred to difficulties he said he had faced in obtaining approval for foreign visits, including trips to France and Japan.
He questioned how he could expect permission to travel to Pakistan if approval for other destinations had not been forthcoming. Despite his doubts, Mann expressed an interest in attending the Lahore gathering and highlighted the cultural connections shared by people on both sides of the Punjab border.
His comments were made during assembly proceedings and do not amount to confirmation that he has formally applied for or received permission to travel to Pakistan.
Invitation linked to Punjabi poet Baba Najmi
Pakistani Punjabi poet Baba Bashir Hussain Najmi, widely known as Baba Najmi, was identified in media reports as the person who invited Mann to the event.
The invitation was discussed during the Punjab Assembly session, where members also raised the prospect of a broader visit involving the assembly speaker and other legislators.
The exchange brought attention to the shared language, literature and cultural traditions of Indian and Pakistani Punjab, which have remained connected despite the international border and political tensions.
Conference scheduled for November 27–29 in Lahore
The event is listed by its organisers as the fourth International Punjabi Conference, scheduled for November 27–29, 2026, at the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (PILAC) in Lahore.
The conference is organised by Punjabi Parchar and Punjabi Lehar. Its programme is expected to include discussions on Punjabi language, literature, history and culture, along with poetry recitals and cultural performances.
Although media reports have also referred to the gathering as the World Punjabi Conference, the organisers’ website identifies it as the International Punjabi Conference. The names should not automatically be treated as interchangeable with other events organised under separate conference banners.
Mann raises possibility of visiting Kartarpur
During the assembly discussion, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan suggested that Mann take other assembly members with him if he received permission to visit Pakistan.
Mann responded that he would like the speaker, ruling-party members and opposition legislators to visit Kartarpur Sahib together. His remarks also brought attention to the Kartarpur Corridor, which connects Indian pilgrims with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.
The discussion reflected interest in religious and cultural connections across the border, but it did not announce a confirmed delegation or a decision to reopen the corridor.
