Change of plans: World record attempts postponed
Rana Mashhood says 400,000 volunteers had signed up for the attempt.
Rana Mashhood says 400,000 volunteers has signed up for the attempt. PHOTO: ONLINE
LAHORE:
The attempt to set the world record for the largest gathering singing national anthem, to be held on Monday (today) was postponed at the last minute on Sunday with organisers offering various reasons for the delay.
Minister Rana Mashhood said the event was postponed because over 400,000 people had registered for the attempt. He said the organisers had planned for 175,000 participants.
He said the new venue and date would be announced soon.
However, an official choosing anonymity stated that it was postponed due to security concerns.
Rehearsal
Earlier on Sunday, Rana Mashhood, Lahore Commissioner Rashid Mehmood Langrial; Deputy Commissioner Ahmed Javed Qazi; Inspector General Khan Baig; Chief Traffic Officer Sohail Sukhera; Chief Police Officer Shafiq Gujjar; Sports Board Director General Usman Anwar, Sports Department Secretary Muhammad Khan Khichi had visited the venue to review arrangements. A final dress rehearsal was also held.
Usman Anwar had told newsmen that the event would be monitored by using helicopters.
“As many as 50 pickets will be set up around the Punjab University campus. As many as five superintendents, 10 deputy superintendents, 50 inspectors, 1,200 police officials, over 1,000 traffic wardens and 30,000 volunteers will perform security duties. Security officials will also use sniffer dogs,” he said.
To a query regarding access to the main venue, the Sports Board director had said all the university, college and school administrations had been informed about their entry gates.
“As many as 54 entry points have been identified. The participants can use Punjab University toilet facilities. PYF officials have also set up temporary lavatories for the participants,” he said.
He said kits and shirts had been distributed among participants.
He said they would be served refreshments during the event. Anwar said a ‘mini-hospital’ had been set up to provide emergency aid.
“Over 2,000 medical staff will be available on the spot to cope with any emergency. Rescue 1122 services will also be utilised for the event,” he said.
He said the national anthem venue had been divided into 12 sections and 34 sub-sections.
“The empty spaces will be marked through green cards, half-empty by blue, 70 per cent filled by yellow. Full sections will be shown through red cards.” He said males would not have access to the section reserved for women.
Rana Mashhood had addressed participants at the rehearsal.
He urged them to show discipline and cooperation.
He said last India had improved on Pakistan’s national anthem record and hoped that participants would regain the title. “We want to show the world that Pakistanis are a peaceful people,” he said.
“We have suffered a lot on account of terrorism but our youths have shown that they want peace and progress,” he said.
He had advised people not participating in the attempts against entering the venue.
“Security arrangements in and outside the venue are more than satisfactory and though the general public will face a slight difficulty in travelling, we appeal them to cooperate with us in achieving this feat.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2014.
The attempt to set the world record for the largest gathering singing national anthem, to be held on Monday (today) was postponed at the last minute on Sunday with organisers offering various reasons for the delay.
Minister Rana Mashhood said the event was postponed because over 400,000 people had registered for the attempt. He said the organisers had planned for 175,000 participants.
He said the new venue and date would be announced soon.
However, an official choosing anonymity stated that it was postponed due to security concerns.
Rehearsal
Earlier on Sunday, Rana Mashhood, Lahore Commissioner Rashid Mehmood Langrial; Deputy Commissioner Ahmed Javed Qazi; Inspector General Khan Baig; Chief Traffic Officer Sohail Sukhera; Chief Police Officer Shafiq Gujjar; Sports Board Director General Usman Anwar, Sports Department Secretary Muhammad Khan Khichi had visited the venue to review arrangements. A final dress rehearsal was also held.
Usman Anwar had told newsmen that the event would be monitored by using helicopters.
“As many as 50 pickets will be set up around the Punjab University campus. As many as five superintendents, 10 deputy superintendents, 50 inspectors, 1,200 police officials, over 1,000 traffic wardens and 30,000 volunteers will perform security duties. Security officials will also use sniffer dogs,” he said.
To a query regarding access to the main venue, the Sports Board director had said all the university, college and school administrations had been informed about their entry gates.
“As many as 54 entry points have been identified. The participants can use Punjab University toilet facilities. PYF officials have also set up temporary lavatories for the participants,” he said.
He said kits and shirts had been distributed among participants.
He said they would be served refreshments during the event. Anwar said a ‘mini-hospital’ had been set up to provide emergency aid.
“Over 2,000 medical staff will be available on the spot to cope with any emergency. Rescue 1122 services will also be utilised for the event,” he said.
He said the national anthem venue had been divided into 12 sections and 34 sub-sections.
“The empty spaces will be marked through green cards, half-empty by blue, 70 per cent filled by yellow. Full sections will be shown through red cards.” He said males would not have access to the section reserved for women.
Rana Mashhood had addressed participants at the rehearsal.
He urged them to show discipline and cooperation.
He said last India had improved on Pakistan’s national anthem record and hoped that participants would regain the title. “We want to show the world that Pakistanis are a peaceful people,” he said.
“We have suffered a lot on account of terrorism but our youths have shown that they want peace and progress,” he said.
He had advised people not participating in the attempts against entering the venue.
“Security arrangements in and outside the venue are more than satisfactory and though the general public will face a slight difficulty in travelling, we appeal them to cooperate with us in achieving this feat.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2014.