Singer-songwriter Bilal Maqsood released a second volume of nursery rhymes from children’s puppet show Pakkay Dost on YouTube on Tuesday.
The first volume came out in 2023 and the show's vibrant visuals and engaging narratives garnered widespread acclaim, fostering a love for Urdu and enriching the lives of countless young viewers.
Actor Sajal Ali lauded Maqsood’s work on social media, penning, “Bilal Maqsood, you are doing a great job!”
She appreciated the show’s reignition of Urdu language amongst the youth, “Urdu is a beautiful language and it’s high time we stop running away from it.”
The actor reminded us that it’s cool to embrace our mother tongue, “It was always cool! Let’s own it, celebrate it and make it even cooler!”
On Wednesday, Maqsood took to Instagram to promote the new episodes, “I make Pakkay Dost for kids. I have always longed to make quality content for children and have finally gotten the opportunity to do it after Strings ended. I believe the entertainment industry has stopped focusing on children since the last two decades."
Being a father himself, the singer observed, “Our kids are being raised on foreign content, which is out of our control. We cannot limit their screen time but the least we can do is to introduce them to shows that teach them good values, are safe and keep them connected to their culture and language.”
Expressing why he chose Urdu, Maqsood stated “I made Pakkay Dost because I wanted to make Urdu cool. Kids and parents often run away from Urdu and I wanted to change that. I want to request all parents and teachers to make sure that kids around them watch Pakkay Dost.”
The show has been captivating young minds with playful storytelling and colourful visuals, fostering a love for the Urdu language while imparting valuable life lessons. This makes it an enjoyable experience for children and a meaningful one for parents who want to instill cultural and linguistic pride in their children.
Each episode offers laughter, lessons, and an opportunity for children to connect with their roots. The show has garnered acclaim from parents and educators alike.
In January, Maqsood announced partnership with ConnectHear to make Pakkay Dost accessible to the hearing-impaired community through the integration of sign language interpretation.
"We are very excited to partner with ConnectHear," said Maqsood. "Our mission is to bring joy, learning and cultural enrichment and create a brighter childhood for all children. This collaboration is a significant step towards making Pakkay Dost truly inclusive and ensuring that every child can experience the magic of our show."
"At ConnectHear, we believe in creating a world where no one is left behind," said Arhum Ishtiaq, CTO and Co-Founder, ConnectHear. "This alliance with Pakkay Dost allows us to bridge the gap in children's entertainment and education for the Deaf community. We're not just adding sign language to the show, we're adding joy, imagination, and inclusion to every deaf child's life.”
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