Karachi, July 25, 2025: Celebrated actor Sajal Ali has praised musician Bilal Maqsood’s children’s puppet show Pakkay Dost for its creative approach to making the Urdu language engaging for young audiences.
On Tuesday, Maqsood released Volume II of Pakkay Dost nursery rhymes on YouTube, following the widely appreciated debut volume launched in 2023. The show has earned acclaim for its vibrant visuals, culturally rooted storytelling, and its mission to instill a love for Urdu among children.
Taking to social media, Sajal Ali commended the initiative:
“Bilal Maqsood, you are doing a great job!”
She further wrote:
“Urdu is a beautiful language, and it’s high time we stop running away from it. It was always cool! Let’s own it, celebrate it, and make it even cooler!”
On Wednesday, Bilal Maqsood also shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, expressing his passion for children’s content and his reasons for starting the show:
“I make Pakkay Dost for kids. I have always longed to create quality content for children and finally got the opportunity after Strings ended. Unfortunately, the entertainment industry has largely ignored children for the past two decades.”
As a father himself, Maqsood emphasized the need for accessible and culturally relevant content:
“We cannot entirely control our children’s screen time, but we can introduce them to content that is safe, educational, and connected to their roots. Pakkay Dost teaches values, shares joy, and celebrates our language.”
He added that the show was born out of a desire to make Urdu “cool” again for young viewers and urged parents and teachers to introduce children to Pakkay Dost.
With its playful puppetry, colourful visuals, and thoughtful life lessons, Pakkay Dost has quickly become a favorite among both children and parents. The show’s focus on cultural pride and linguistic identity has made it a standout in Pakistan’s limited children’s entertainment landscape.
Earlier this year, Maqsood announced a partnership with ConnectHear, a social enterprise focused on accessibility for the hearing-impaired. The collaboration ensures Pakkay Dost is now available with sign language interpretation, making it one of the few children’s shows in Pakistan designed to be inclusive of the Deaf community.
“We are very excited to partner with ConnectHear,” said Maqsood. “Our mission is to bring joy, learning, and cultural enrichment to all children. This collaboration is a major step in making Pakkay Dost truly inclusive.”
Arhum Ishtiaq, CTO and Co-Founder of ConnectHear, echoed the sentiment:
“We believe in creating a world where no one is left behind. This alliance bridges the gap in children’s entertainment for the Deaf community. We’re not just adding sign language—we’re adding joy, imagination, and inclusion.”
As Pakkay Dost continues to grow, it is redefining what quality children’s content can look like in Pakistan—rooted in heritage, driven by values, and accessible to all.
