LAHORE: As many as 29,040 students will gather at the National Hockey Stadium here on Saturday to break the Guinness World Record of the largest human flag, presently held by Bangladesh.

Last year, the government of Punjab spent huge funds of Rs8 billion to hold the Youth Festival in which some new world records, including that of human flag, were made. But Bangladesh broke it the same year to take the lead. Now billions of rupees are being spent again on the Youth Festival to set more records, which may be broken either by India or Bangladesh before their printing in the Guinness Book of World Record.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Punjab Education and Sports Minister Rana Mashhood, who has no problem in gathering students from schools and colleges, said that last year 24,000 students had made the national human flag, but Bangladesh broke it with 27,117 numbers.

“The arrangements for making the largest human flag of the world have been completed and a total of 29,040 people will gather here at the National Hockey Stadium to break the Guinness World Record (GWR).

“After setting the World Record of the largest human flag, Punjab will also try to snatch the world record of singing national anthem from India on Feb 19,” the minister said. After Bangladesh broke Pakistan’s record of national human flag, India also broke Pakistan’s record of singing the national anthem the same year. Known for their poverty, the three South Asian neighbours are just filling the coffers of GWR officials. Last year, the Punjab Sports Board had spent 100,000 pounds to host GWR officials who watched the record breaking process which could last for a few months.

Guinness World Record representative Leo Wiger has reached here to monitor the fresh attempt.Meanwhile, a full-dress rehearsal to make the world’s largest human flag was held here at the National Hockey Stadium on Friday under the banner of the Punjab Youth Festival 2014. Around 30,000 students from different schools gathered at the stadium.

Punjab Sports Board DG Usman Anwar says “enthusiastic Punjab youth will try to break as many as 100 world records in this year’s youth festival”.