A localised version of Youtube has launched in Pakistan, allowing residents to gain access to the world’s largest online streaming service after a ban of four years.
According to an official announcement on the Google Asia Pacific Blog, localised versions of the website went live in Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka on Tuesday. According to a Google spokesperson, the company are “aiming to provide an even more tailored Youtube experience by launching versions that are optimised for Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
“We also hope that this will pave the way for the work of local creators, personalities and musicians to shine on the worlds largest and most vibrant video community.”
According to Google, all government requests for removal of content will be tracked and included in the companies transparency report.
Localised versions of the site will provide users in the above areas with more high-quality local content, including videos in the local languages taking priority in the search results.
The launch is a big step forward for Pakistan, which banned Youtube in 2012 after protests over a blasphemous movie that was uploaded to the portal.
The reintroduction of the website will serve as a vital platform for Pakistani musicians looking to reach a wider audience, with new local channels such as the The Coke Studio providing artists with opportunities to perform live on a far larger scale.
Here’s to finding the next Pakistani Justin Bieber!