LAHORE, Sept 24: A 40-member delegation of the World Punjabi Congress on Monday left for India to participate in various seminars to help promote friendship between the two countries.

Headed by congress chairperson Fakhar Zaman, the delegation members will visit Chandigarh and New Delhi to participate in the seminars and literary conferences.

According to a press release, the first seminar will be held in New Delhi on trade between Pakistan and India and the second in Candigarh on Sufism as an instrument for promoting peace and tolerance.

Delegation members will later participate in the 15th World Punjabi Conference which is scheduled to commence in New Delhi from Sept 26.

The theme of the conference is building bridges for peace through literature and art and the speakers include former Indian prime minister I K Gujral, Peace activist Nirmala Deshpande, Dr Noor, Kuldip Nayar, Dr Neki and Dr Fatima Husain will also speak at different sessions of the seminar.

A session of the conference has also been dedicated to martyr Bhagat Singh as the Delhi government is observing the celebrations of the freedom fighter. Delhi government’s Chief Minister Shiela Dixit will be the main speaker at the session.

Delegation members will also visit Agra before their return home, according to the press release.

Mr Zaman told reporters at Wagha border Pakistan and India should hold talks to resolve conflicts. The two governments, he said, should focus mainly on bringing peace to South Asia which was the abode of one-fifth of the humanity and most of its population was living under abject poverty. —Correspondent