YouTube launches local version for users in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal

The world’s largest video-sharing website YouTube has announced the launch of its localised versions for Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan.

“This launch provides Internet users in those countries with a more tailored YouTube experience to find high-quality local content so they can be informed, entertained, educated and inspired by content for their own culture and language,” Google Communications and Public Affairs Manager Zeffri Yusof was quoted by the Tribune  in a press release on Tuesday.

The Internet giant and parent company of YouTube said users visiting the website’s homepage from these countries would be able to see videos and playlists that are popular in their countries in their local languages – that is Pakistanis will be able to search for YouTube videos in Urdu for the first time.

With over a billion monthly users worldwide, YouTube is the world’s largest online video-sharing community, which is available in 88 countries locally, as well as in 76 global languages, including Sinhalese, Nepali, Urdu, the statement said.

This launch, said the company, will also provide more people from Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka the chance to share their own stories and videos with the rest of the world. “We also hope that this will pave the way for the work of local creators, personalities and musicians to shine on the world’s largest and most vibrant video community.”

The localised version aims to promote country-specific content, but the users can access a vast amount of knowledge-based and educational videos available on the website – Khan Academy lectures, TEDx Talks and National Geographic documentaries to name a few.