Over 2 million (20 lakh) Punjabis are living abroad - the majority in Canada, US, Britain, Europe and south-east Asian countries.

Badal said the compiled data would be posted on the government's website on NRIs so that they can access it and update it.

Lord Rana, who belongs to Sanghol village, 30 km from here, known for its ancient Harappan links, offered to set up a world-class university at the village.