LAHORE: Thousands of Pakistanis sang their national anthem together at a ceremony named Punjab Youth Festival 2012 at National Hockey Stadium in Lahore on Saturday to set a world record.

According to the Sports Board Punjab at least 24,000 students and athletes, and 60,000 citizens were invited to sing the national anthem for creating a new record in the Guinness World Records.

At least 70,000 Pakistanis sang the national anthem together in Lahore on October 20, to set a new world record breaking India’s record.

The previous record was set by India when 15,243 people sang the national anthem simultaneously earlier this year, AFP reports.

A two- member team of the Guinness World Records was present to monitor the event.

Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif also attended the event and sang the national anthem along with the huge crowd.In his speech on the occasion, he said this was not a Punjab festival, but instead a Pakistan festival – AFP/PPI