ISLAMABAD (Nazrana Times): Pakistan’s Foreign Office has said there is no restriction on granting a visa to Indian Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan also told a weekly press briefing that Pakistan had not suspended visa services for Indian citizens.

Khan was responding to questions about Mann’s reported wish to attend the World Punjabi Conference in Lahore. According to the information provided, the chief minister expressed his interest in participating during a Punjab Assembly session last month.

Visa eligibility does not confirm a visit

The spokesperson said there was no bar on issuing Mann a visa. However, he did not say whether New Delhi would permit the chief minister to travel, noting that this involved Indian government approval.

The briefing did not confirm that a visa had been issued to Mann or that arrangements for his visit had been finalised.

Religious-visa facilitation continues, Foreign Office says

According to the Foreign Office, Pakistan has issued visas to more than 4,000 Sikh pilgrims this year. Khan cited the figure while reaffirming that religious-visa facilitation for Indian pilgrims continued.

The weekly briefing also covered Pakistan’s visa policy, an upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting, the Iran-US dispute and developments in the Middle East.