Karachi:
Children often carry the memories of the shows they see during their early childhood into their adult lives. When Gen-Z remembers the shows they watched, the blue flying Cape of Commander Safeguard comes as he fought for the chimped progress of Dirtoo, and Kachra Rani comes to their minds. There were not many shows that were broadcast, but those who did it became memorable and widely hyped. Therefore, local children’s shows are important. They can allow children to see themselves on screen and consume a more thought -provoking source of entertainment.
E.g. In the golden era of PTV in the 90s, shows like Ainak Wala Jinn and Sim Sim Hamara appealed to the younger audience. “I wanted to get really excited about it,” said Farhana Naheed, a regular viewer of PTV’s children’s show in the 90s in an interview with Lifestyle Desk at The Express Pakinomist. “We would all discuss the show at school the next day. We would all clap in front of the TV and have our snacks ready. I don’t think kids are doing it today. They were on TV after 17:00 and we would make sure to finish all our work before that. They wouldn’t repeat it either, so if you missed it, you missed it.
This no longer seems to be the case now. Children between the ages of 6 to 13 spend their time on their mobile devices. This excessive screen time leads to various problems, including sleep deprivation, eye loading and reduced attention spans.
Abdul Rauf, Creator of PTVS Children’s Show Saray Sur Hamaray In 2018, the same thinks. “There are no shows for children,” Rauf said, talking to the lifestyle disk at the Express Pakinomist. “Name every channel that is only comedians sitting and insulting each other. Who is entertaining they? The kids in our time need guidance, we would have gaming exhibitions with quizzes and debates, all this is completed now. Parents just give their children’s cell phones now and they play games all day. It’s all life now.”
Jamal Khurshid, who briefly worked as an art director at Commander Protection In 2005, talked about the same need. “There is a vacuum of things that people want to see,” he said, talking to Lifestyle Desk on Express Pakinomist. “It’s trendy because there’s no other source of entertainment. Whether it’s good or bad depends on taste to taste. These shows were mediocre according to me but they are exactly what people needed to look at that time. I don’t know if Commander Protection Was a good program, but it entertained many people. ”
Khurshid talked about shows’ disadvantages. “The problem with Commander Protection Was that it was an advertisement for a product, ”he said.” He has the soap name written on his chest. If you look at Western superheroes, Spiderman and Batman try not to sell anything. You do not put product advertisements on grades made for children, I find the action manipulative. Commander Protection Inspired inspiration some superhero characters that Burka Avenger and 3 Bahadur though.” 
An example of a thoughtful show is Burka Avenger. Created by Band Awaz’s musician Haroon, that’s the story of Jiya, a schoolteacher whose alter ego is super-heroine named Burka Avenger. She fights for justice, peace and literacy. However, Burka Avenger Sent in 2013, about twelve years ago, and very few shows have come out after that.
The show contained a relatable story that resonates with Pakistani children. “The way good TV shows work is that you take a story and locate it,” expanded Khurshid with what is doing Burka Avenger good. “Shows abroad will pick up a black neighborhood and create a show on life that is about the hood for the audience to relate to it. We should also do the same. Get a poorly tried area and tell about their children. Make the characters brown, more relatable. That’s why I like Burka Avenger. Haroon went after something that tried to accommodate the locals rather than us trying to be West. We need to create our own industry. ”
The only good example of a recent show with representation with entertainment is Pakkay dost. Pakkay dost is a children’s puppet exhibition created by the former String member, Bilal Maqsood and funded by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Sindh in 2023. The show promotes a love for Urdu language while giving life lessons.
“My kids absolutely love Pakkay dost. The little one did not talk any urdu and now sings randomly Pani Hay Bachana(One of the kindergarten rhymes with the show). “Read an Instagram Comment.
“Representation of a similar culture, language and environment not only help them learn about their roots and values, it introduces a deeper connection that we have lost over time due to neglect in this regard,” said Betish Umer, production designer of Pakkay dost In an interview with Lifestyle Desk at The Express Pakinomist. “It is important to have Pakistani content for children so that they can see a representation of themselves in the media.”
If you look at the lack of initiative to create content for children, there is no one to deny that available shows are not enough to accommodate the local audience and have fallen in quality since the PTV era. The shows that existed had their share of the good and the bad.
Here is to hope that the industry will come back on the feet and start working for the greatest age group in Pakistan.
