U.S. Funds $20 Million Pakistani Sesame Street
November 2, 2011 by Sam Rolley
At a cost of $20 million to the American taxpayer, U.S. officials have decided to create a version of Sesame Street for Pakistan in order to combat growing radicalization in the country.
The television show, which will feature a cast of Pakistani characters, is part of a broader commitment to provide the country $7.5 billion in foreign aid over five years, according to the Associated Press.
The show will feature a female character named Rani, who loves traditional Pakistani music, who is reportedly supposed to teach Pakistani children about sexual equality and the importance of female education in the male-dominated country.
Seventy-eight episodes will be aired in Pakistan’s national language, Urdu, over a three-year span, as well as 13 in each of the four main regional languages, Baluchi, Pashtu, Punjabi and Sindhi. The shows will appear on Pakistan state television.
The show will reportedly appear much like the American Sesame Street, though without Big Bird and other iconic cast members. Each episode will follow a similar format to its Western counterpart, but the Pakistani Sesame Street will reportedly focus much more on Mideastern themes.
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