Sajal Aly applauds Bilal Maqsood’s efforts to make Urdu ‘cool’ for younger generation

Renowned actress Sajal Aly praised singer Bilal Maqsood for his dedicated efforts to promote the Urdu language among children through his educational entertainment show, Pakke Dost.

Taking to Instagram, Sajal highlighted the growing disconnect between the youth and their native language, pointing out that many young people today feel hesitant or uncomfortable speaking Urdu. 

“Urdu is a beautiful language. 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. Bilal Maqsood, you are doing a great job,” she wrote on her Instagram story.

In a video message shared on Instagram, Bilal Maqsood, former member of the iconic band Strings, described Pakke Dost as his new life mission. The show, designed for children, blends music, storytelling, and puppetry to foster a love for Urdu and preserve cultural values.

Maqsood expressed concern over the growing dominance of English and foreign content in Pakistani households. He noted that both children and their parents are increasingly distancing themselves from Urdu, often perceiving English as more valuable or prestigious.

Read more: Bilal Maqsood says Anwar Maqsood won’t appear on Shehzad Shaikh’s podcast

“Through Pakke Dost, I want children to take pride in speaking Urdu,” he said. “There’s no reason to be ashamed of our language. It should be spoken with joy and confidence.”

He also criticised the influence of foreign media on Pakistani children, stating that the values embedded in such content are often disconnected from local culture and remain largely beyond parental control. In contrast, Pakke Dost aims to provide culturally rooted, high-quality entertainment that reinforces Pakistani values and traditions.