ISLAMABAD, Sept 22: A Pakistani is on his way to break the Guinness World Record for the longest peace walk.

A media savvy, Kasrat Rai is on a walking journey from Bab-i-Khyber to Karachi. His walk for peace started on September 14 and the day of September 21 saw him continue his journey through Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Rawat.

Originally from Hafizabad, Rai set the first world record for the world’s longest peace walk in 2007 when he walked from Khyber to Karachi in 85 days and covered a distance of 1,999 kilometres.

Now, he has set off again to break his own record by walking a distance of 2,250 kilometres in 72 days.

This time, Rai has chosen to walk through city areas and take a longer route instead of bypassing populated areas.

Lean and not too tall, he was visible walking down Islamabad Expressway today with a white flag in his hand, a symbol of peace and a friend walking alongside as a police patrol car ensuring security followed behind.

When not setting World Records, Rai runs a business Laback & Co. and an NGO called Mehac Trust.

Planning this walk took Rai six months and he has a team of 37 coordinators working day and night to help him plan the logistics and reach the finish line. His essential team for this project consists of Fazal Wahab from Bajaur, Malik Riaz from Hafizabad, Naeem Abbas from Lahore and Basat Sial from Lahore. Since the walk is a Guinness Record attempt, Rai is not allowed to ask for commercial sponsorships and had to fund the effort personally.

In a suave and smooth manner, Rai explained to Dawn that the purpose of his walk was to mobilise the Pakistani nation to gather behind him and strive for peace. “If your house is on fire, you’ll do something about it,” said Rai. He elaborated: “At this point, the greatest thing the world needs is peace, it needs to be worked for. This walk is meant to symbolise that we are against terrorism on every level, and until state attitudes change, there will be no peace.”

He was clear that Pakistan’s current problems are as much because of external reasons as a failure of governance and the state’s ‘Hitler-like’ attitude.

While the walk is a great publicity effort that can really provide the Pakistani nation a symbolic purpose to unite behind, media’s recognition of Rai’s efforts has been mediocre.

Since the beginning of his walk a week ago, he has been greeted with receptions at different points, including the help of DCO Nowshera Mohammad Ayaz Mandokhel and a hearty welcome from the President of Azad Kashmir Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob. In Islamabad, Rai attended a reception at the Chamber of Commerce before continuing on to his destination.

However, what was lacking was an absence of inspired Pakistanis following him. Perhaps the requirement of sole determination is what makes an endeavour like this difficult; however, it would be worth finding out if Rai’s efforts bear fruit by November 24, and this peace walk can gain enough publicity to have a crowd of people supporting Rai in Karachi as he reaches the finish line.