GWR declares Punjab Youth Festival as world’s largest event

Lahore: The Punjab Youth Festival 2012 has been registered as the biggest sports, social and cultural activity of the world and Guinness World Record Book officials have declared its another World Record for Pakistan.

Talking to journalists here at Bagh-i-Jinnah after meeting the veterans cricketers playing in the Punjab Youth Festival cricket matches, Deputy Speaker Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, who is also the chairman organizing committee of the festival, informed that apart from Sports Board Punjab under the leadership of its Director General Usman Anwar, Higher Education Commission, Schools, Tevta, Punjab Information Techonogy Board, Agriculture, Aufaq, Information, Live Stock and Dairy Development, Punjab Horticulture, HUD and PHE, Punjab Small Industries, Population Welfare, Social Welfare and Tourism departments got involved in this Festival that was launched on August 26, 2012.

“The idea of holding such a big festival came when we saw a mass participation of more than 900,000 people in the Punjab Sports Festival 2011-12. We put up the event for GWR but there was a procedure required to be followed. Thus we planned the hold the Punjab Youth Festival and now it’s been declared the biggest event of the world,” he added.

“The Balochistan cricket team, which is also taking part in the festival, is now enjoying the hospitality of Punjab,” he added.

He further said that some of the events they had reserved for the closing ceremony and now he added: “We would be holding the around 20 Guinness events besides the cycle race and the marathon.”

“In street art the work would be stretched to nine kilometres to break the previous record while 5000 boys and girls will take part in record attempt,” he added.

He also congratulated the nation for getting yet another GWR. “Holding such a big activity was not less than a dream come true.

“Now we have planned 17 kilometres marathon which would have the participation of around 100,000 people of all walks of life,” he added.

He also rejected all the allegations of corruption and to show its transparency an agreement with Transparency International is being made.

“The organization of the activity for youth was the brainchild of Chief Minister Punjab MIan Shahbaz Sharif to give them direction and to provide them a platform to show their talent,” he maintained.

Usman Anwar said that a platform has been established in the sports of the province in general and country in particular. “It was being considered an impossible step but now the closing ceremony of the festival is set to be held in the coming week,” added.

He further stated that the process of giving prizes and certificate to the participants of the festival has started while the winners of the provincial level would be given awards at the closing ceremony.