Coke Studio Pakistan’s breakout track “Pasoori” from Season 14, performed by Ali Sethi and Shae Gill, has officially surpassed one billion views on YouTube, marking a major milestone for Pakistani music on the global stage.
First released in February 2022 during Coke Studio Pakistan Season 14, “Pasoori” rapidly transcended borders. Its infectious blend of Punjabi and Urdu lyrics, contemporary production, and traditional folk influences resonated across South Asia and worldwide—solidifying it as one of the most recognizable Pakistani tracks of the streaming era.
Pasoori came together through a collaboration of some of Pakistan’s most distinctive creative voices. Curated and produced by Xulfi, the song was built around a narrative by Ali Sethi, who co-wrote it with Fazal Abbas and co-composed it with Xulfi. Abdullah Siddiqui and Sherry Khattak shaped its musical arrangement, with Siddiqui and Xulfi leading production.
That same meeting of tradition and contemporary expression carried into the film. Directed by Kamal Khan, with cinematography by Ahsan Raza and production design and art direction by Hashim Ali, the portraiture-led visual brought together figures including Sheema Kirmani and Seraiki jhoomar-style dancers, creating a world that felt as layered and unexpected as the song itself.
Pasoori reaching one billion views on YouTube is a landmark moment for Coke Studio and for Pakistani music,” said Sami Wahid, General Manager, Pakistan and Afghanistan Region, The Coca-Cola Company. “For nearly two decades, Coke Studio has carried Pakistan’s music, languages and stories to audiences across more than 180 countries, and Pasoori shows what can happen when a song remains deeply rooted in its identity while connecting across borders. Four years on, audiences around the world continue to discover and return to it. For us, this milestone reflects what Coke Studio has always stood for: creating space for Pakistani artists and ideas to travel globally, and showing the scale at which our culture can resonate.”
“YouTube is the home of culture and music, giving Pakistan a platform to share its rich stories and talent globally,” said Farhan Qureshi, Google’s Cluster Director for Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and Frontier Markets. “‘Pasoori’ is a powerful example of this connection in action. Years after its release, it continues to resonate with audiences everywhere, proving that local culture amplified through YouTube can transcend borders and become a timeless worldwide phenomenon.”
The song’s global momentum was evident from the start. In 2022, “Pasoori” dominated two categories in Google’s global Year in Search lists, ranking as the second most-searched track in “Songs” and taking the #1 spot in “Hum to Search: Top Songs.” Today, the Coke Studio Pakistan channel counts nearly 18 million subscribers, with “Pasoori” remaining its most-watched video.
The track’s digital footprint extended far beyond the original upload, generating over two million user-generated videos on YouTube Shorts. Globally, Pakistani channels see over 60% of their total watch time from abroad, but “Pasoori” set an extraordinary benchmark: 90% of the official music video’s views came from international listeners. This underscores both YouTube’s power to export local talent to the world and the universal resonance of Pakistani music and culture. The official music video has also been viewed in over 60 countries.
This milestone marks a historic achievement for Coke Studio Pakistan, reinforcing its long-standing mission to take local voices, sounds, and stories to the world stage. As the view count surpasses one billion, the celebration belongs to the artists, creators, and production teams behind the track—and to the millions of global fans who continue to press play.
