Celebrities
Sajal Ali Applauds ‘Pakkay Dost’ for Making Urdu Fun for Kids
Singer-songwriter Bilal Maqsood released the second volume of nursery rhymes from his children’s puppet show Pakkay Dost on YouTube on Tuesday.
After launching the first volume in 2023, Maqsood’s vibrant visuals and engaging storytelling won widespread acclaim, sparking a renewed love for Urdu and enriching the lives of countless young viewers.
Actor Sajal Ali praised Maqsood’s work on social media, writing, “Bilal Maqsood, you are doing a great job!” She commended the show for reigniting interest in the Urdu language among youth. “Urdu is a beautiful language and it’s high time we stop running away from it,” she said. Ali emphasized the importance of embracing 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, sharing, “I make Pakkay Dost for kids. I have always longed to create quality content for children and finally got the chance after Strings ended. I believe the entertainment industry has neglected children for the past two decades.”
As a father, Maqsood observed, “Our kids are growing up on foreign content, which we can’t always control. While we can’t restrict their screen time completely, we can introduce them to shows that teach good values, ensure safety, and help them stay connected to their culture and language.”
Explaining his choice of language, Maqsood said, “I created Pakkay Dost to make Urdu cool. Kids and parents often avoid Urdu—I wanted to change that. I urge all parents and teachers to ensure children around them watch Pakkay Dost.”
The show continues to captivate young audiences through colorful visuals and playful storytelling, nurturing both a love for Urdu and important life lessons. Parents and educators have praised Pakkay Dost for offering content that entertains while instilling cultural and linguistic pride.
In January, Maqsood announced a partnership with ConnectHear to make Pakkay Dost accessible to hearing-impaired children by incorporating sign language interpretation.
“We are very excited to partner with ConnectHear,” said Maqsood. “Our mission is to bring joy, learning, and cultural enrichment to children and create a brighter childhood for everyone. This collaboration helps make Pakkay Dost truly inclusive.”
ConnectHear CTO and Co-Founder Arhum Ishtiaq echoed this sentiment: “At ConnectHear, we believe in building a world where no one is left behind. This alliance with Pakkay Dost bridges the gap in children’s education and entertainment for the Deaf community. We’re not just adding sign language—we’re adding joy, imagination, and inclusion to every deaf child’s life.”