Speaking in the Indian Punjab Assembly on Friday, Mann said he had been invited to attend the conference, scheduled to take place in Lahore from 27 to 29 November.
He said he had previously not been granted permission to visit countries such as France and Japan, adding that he was uncertain whether he would be allowed to travel to Pakistan.
Mann said he wanted to attend the conference because eastern and western Punjab share common cultural and linguistic roots, and their people face similar challenges. He stressed the need for greater interaction between the two regions.
His remarks, shared on his official YouTube channel, also prompted discussion on social media. Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and other lawmakers expressed a desire to accompany him if he received permission to visit Pakistan.
Sandhwan told Mann to take them along if he was allowed to travel to Lahore. In response, the chief minister suggested that the entire assembly, including members of the ruling party and the opposition, should visit Kartarpur under the speaker's leadership.
Mann also called for the reopening of the Kartarpur Corridor, saying it would allow lawmakers to visit the shrine of Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.
India's Ministry of Home Affairs has suspended movement through the corridor amid tensions between India and Pakistan.
Invitation to the World Punjabi Conference
The fourth World Punjabi Conference will be held in Lahore from 27 to 29 November. It is being organised jointly by Punjabi Prachar Organisation, Punjabi Lehr and the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture.
Ahmed Raza Punjabi, the conference's chief organiser, told BBC Urdu that he had contacted Mann through renowned Punjabi poet Baba Najmi and invited him to attend the event.
According to Ahmed Raza Punjabi, Mann asked for a formal invitation, which was subsequently sent to him.
The organiser said Mann's visit would depend on the necessary permissions and visa arrangements. He expressed hope that a positive response from the Pakistani authorities could help facilitate the visit.
He added that participants from India had attended previous editions of the conference. However, worsening relations between the two countries prevented Indian participants from attending the previous event. Visa restrictions also remain a challenge for Indian citizens wishing to travel to Pakistan, he said.
Shared Culture Amid Strained Relations
Mann's expression of interest in visiting Lahore comes as relations between India and Pakistan remain strained following military clashes between the two countries last year. Trade and diplomatic ties are limited, while cross-border travel and visa arrangements remain difficult.
During his assembly address, Mann criticised India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and recited verses by Pakistani Punjabi poet Tajammal Kaleem.
Afterwards, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan said that Pakistani poet Baba Najmi had sent his best wishes to Mann.
The chief minister reiterated that the people and cultures of eastern and western Punjab remain closely connected, emphasising the importance of strengthening people-to-people and cultural ties.
However, Mann's participation in the Lahore conference remains uncertain and will depend on the relevant travel permissions and arrangements.
