Pakistan’s government has officially stated its willingness to consider a visa application for Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, should the Indian leader seek to visit the country. The remarks were made by the Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson, Sajjad Haider Khan, during a weekly media briefing on Friday, November 6, 2026. The response came following inquiries regarding the Chief Minister's potential attendance at an upcoming cultural event in Lahore.
On October 23, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader had publicly disclosed that he had received an invitation to attend the World Punjabi Conference, scheduled to take place in Lahore on November 27. During his initial statement, Mr. Mann had expressed uncertainty regarding whether the Indian government would grant him the necessary permissions to facilitate a visit to the neighbouring nation. He had remarked on the shared cultural heritage between the two regions, noting that many poets from India were also expected to participate in the conference.
During the briefing, Mr. Khan clarified that while Pakistan is open to processing a visa for Mr. Mann, the final outcome remains contingent on the administrative protocols of the Indian government. The spokesperson emphasised that the granting of a visa by Pakistan and the permission for travel by the Indian government are viewed as entirely separate procedural matters. He further stated that Pakistan remains committed to facilitating visits to various religious and cultural sites within its borders.
Beyond the potential visit by the Chief Minister, the discussion also touched upon the status of the Kartarpur Corridor. Mr. Mann had previously expressed a desire for members of the Punjab Legislative Assembly to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur if the route were reopened. The corridor, a significant passage for Sikh pilgrims, has remained closed to movement from the Indian side since May 7, 2025, following military and security developments in the region involving missile strikes on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Addressing the current state of religious tourism, the Foreign Office spokesperson reiterated that Pakistan continues to welcome pilgrims of all faiths. According to official figures cited during the briefing, Pakistan issued over 9,000 visas to Indian religious pilgrims in 2025, including both Sikh and Hindu travellers. Additionally, more than 4,000 visas were issued to Sikh pilgrims during the first half of 2026. The government expressed its intention to welcome a large number of visitors at Nankana Sahib later this month for the 557th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Mr. Khan also referenced the 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines as the foundational framework governing pilgrimages between the two countries. He noted that beyond Sikh heritage sites, the Pakistani authorities are actively engaged in efforts to protect and preserve Buddhist heritage locations, such as those found in Taxila and Takht-i-Bahi. To support these preservation goals, the government has established a dedicated task force.
As of now, the decision regarding whether Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will proceed with a formal visa application for the Lahore conference rests with the Indian authorities. Should he seek to move forward, the process would require navigating both the international visa requirements set by Pakistan and the internal clearances mandated by the government in New Delhi.
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