Shedding light: Pakistan Book of Records unearths new talent

Team’s website features recent records from across country

PESHAWAR: When an eight-member team took the initiative to create Pakistan Book of Records (PBR), they were following in the giant footsteps of the Guinness Book of World Records. The purpose was to create a suitable equivalent of a platform to recognise talent – even if it was on a smaller scale.

The initiative explores all the amazing and unusual records made in the city. PBR was launched in 2009.

Initially, the record was confined to social media, as the young members did not have enough funds to establish a web portal. Most of their initial records came from asking citizens to upload videos of feats that they thought were amazing. The project received an overwhelming response. As a result, recently a beta website has recently been launched by them.

“The launch of the record book was aimed to provide a platform for Pakistani citizens to flaunt their talents to the world,” said Ahmad Hussain, founder of PBR. He added Pakistan’s youth has a great deal of talent, but they seldom get the opportunity to either share it with the world or to polish it.

Alternative arrangement

About the website, Hussain said the main reason for launching such a platform was to ensure that people who cannot jump through all the hoops for the Guinness records have an alternative portal to go to.



“PBR focused on the talents of those who cannot approach the Guinness book management,” he said. “People’s enthusiasm and potential could be judged by the fact that the day after the website was launched, we had received over 100 registrations from various cities of the country.” People from all over the country had many amazing stories to tell the PBR team. The response to the non-profit initiative has been overwhelming.

Notable entries 

The website features some recent records.  One notable entry comes from Pakistan’s T20 squad member Sajad Ahmad hailing from Mardan. His name has been added into the Pakistan Record Book for his fastest 100 scored in T20 format.

Another featured record holder is Pakistan born Komal Ahmad. She has developed an app to feed over 0.6 million homeless people.

Modus operandi

The website’s layout is simple to make it easy for the public to use. People who wish to have their talent featured on website simply click on the ‘Set a new record’ button, fill the form and wait for the team to verify the entry. For people setting new records, an adjudicator for the concerned event can be provided. They can judge the record and provide a verdict on the spot.

An alternative option is for interested participants to create a video of themselves breaking the record, upload it online and send the link to the website. The management team will go through the video, verify its accuracy and the result will be announced in a week.

Once records are made, not only are they featured on the website but are also published in the Pakistan Book of Records each year. Record holders are also provided certificates to prove the authenticity of their records; this is done at a ceremony in Peshawar each year.

“Our goal is to show the positive image of Pakistan and particularly Peshawar to the world,” Hussain said. The team management is hopeful that the PBR would eventually be affiliated with the Guinness Book of World Record and work as its sister organisation
in Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2016.