Speaking in the Punjab Assembly, Mann confirmed that he had received an invitation from the conference organisers, who had also offered to host him during his visit.
However, the chief minister expressed uncertainty over obtaining the necessary travel clearance. He referred to previous occasions when, according to him, the Indian government had not permitted him to travel to France, Japan and other countries.
Despite the uncertainty, Mann said he wanted to attend the event, highlighting the shared language, culture and literary traditions of Punjab on both sides of the border.
“Our culture is the same. Our poets and others will go to Lahore, and I also want to go,” Mann said.
During the assembly discussion, the Speaker suggested that if Mann received permission to visit Pakistan, he could take other lawmakers along with him.
The Global Punjabi Conference is expected to bring together poets and other participants to celebrate the Punjabi language, literature and cultural heritage, strengthening cultural ties between the two sides of Punjab.