Karachi:
Children often carry the memories of the programs they observe during their early childhood in their adult life. When the Gen-Z remembers the shows they saw, Cabo Blue Flying of Commander Safeguard while fighting the advances full of Dortoo germs and Kachra Rani occurs to him. There were not many shows that were issued but those who did, became memorable and widely publicized. That is why local children’s shows are important. They can allow children to be observed on the screen and consume a more reflective entertainment source.
For example, in the golden era of PTV in the 90s, they are scheduled as Ainak Wala Jinn and SIM SIM Hamara He appealed to the youngest audience. “I would be very excited,” said Farhana Naheed, a regular spectator of the PTV children’s shows in the 90s in an interview with the lifestyle desk in the Express PakGazette. “We would all discuss the programs at school the next day. We all applaud in front of television and have our ready snacks. I don’t think children do it today. They were on television after 5 pm and we would make sure we would complete all our work before.
This does not seem to be the case now. Children between ages 6 to 13 spend their time glued to their mobile devices. This excessive screen time leads to various problems, such as sleep deprivation, visual fatigue and decreased attention capacity.
Abdul Rauf, creator of PTV’s Kids’ Music Show Saray Sur Hamaray In 2018 he believes the same. “There are no children’s shows,” Rauf said while talking with the lifestyle desk in Express PakGazette. “Name any channel, there are only comedians who feel and insult each other. Who are they entertaining? The children of our time need guidance, we would have game shows with questionnaires and debates, all that is over now. The parents simply give their children mobile phones now and play games all day. Now they are all their lives.”
Jamal Khurshid, who briefly worked as art director at Commander’s safeguard In 2005 he talked about the same need. “There is a void of things that people want to see,” he said while talking with the lifestyle desk in Express PakGazette. “It is fashionable because there is no other source of entertainment. Whether good or bad, it depends on the taste of taste. These shows were mediocre according to me, but they are exactly what people needed to see at that time. I don’t know if Commander’s safeguard It was a good program, but entertained many people. ”
Khurshid talked about the disadvantages of programs. “The problem with Commander’s safeguard It was that it was a commercial for a product, “he said.” He has the name of soap written in his chest. If we look at Western superheroes, Spiderman and Batman are not trying to sell anything. Do not commercial products in characters made for children, I find the manipulative act. Commander’s safeguard inspired some superhero characters like Burka Avenger and 3 BAHADUR although.” 
An example of a reflexive show is Burka Avenger. Created by the musician of the band Awaz Haroon, it is the story of Jiya, a school teacher whose alter ego is the superheroine called Burka Avenger. She fights for justice, peace and literacy. However, Burka Avenger It was broadcast in 2013, a few years ago and very few shows have left after that.
The program presented a relatable story that resonated with Pakistani children. “The way good television programs work is that you take a story and locate it,” Khurshid expanded on what he does Burka Avenger good. “The shows abroad will collect a black neighborhood and create a show about the life that revolves around the hood, so that the audience relates. We must also do the same. Gather a disadvantaged area and narrate on their children. Make the characters be golden, more relatable. That’s why I like it. Burka Avenger. Harooon was for something that tried to serve the locals instead of trying to be west. We need to create our own industry. ”
The only good example of a recent program with entertainment representation is Pakkay Dost. Pakkay Dost It is a children’s puppet show created by former Strings member, Bilal Maqsood and financed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Sindh in 2023. The show encourages a love for the Urdu language by imparting life lessons.
“My children love absolutely Pakkay Dost. The little boy did not speak any urdu and now randomly sings Pani there is baclana(One of the Rhymes of the Nursery in the program) “Read an Instagram comment. He praised the program and wrote:” Wonderful initiative to promote URDU language for the new generation “, with a series of applauded emojis.
“The representation of a similar culture, language and environment not only help them learn about their roots and values, instill a deeper connection that we have lost over time due to negligence in this regard,” said Beening Uumer, a production designer of production of Pakkay Dost in an interview with the lifestyle desk at the Express PakGazette. “It is essential to have Pakistani content for children so that they can see a representation of themselves in the media.”
When observing the lack of initiative to make content for children, it cannot be denied that the available programs are not enough to serve the local audience and have decreased in quality from the era of the PTV. The shows that existed had their share of the good and the bad.
We hope that the industry will stand up and start working for the largest age group in Pakistan.
