![Map of Pakistan](/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/pakistan-768x818-1.png)
Population:
219.9 million
Evangelical population:
0.7%
People groups:
512
Unreached people groups:
504
Pakistan
Nearly twice the size of California, Pakistan is located between India, Afghanistan, China, and Iran. Its climate ranges from hot and dry to arctic in the northern highlands. The country is home of a 62-mile long glacier system, the largest outside the north and south poles.
Formerly a part of British-controlled India, it separated in 1947. With a 1973 constitution stating that all laws are to conform to Islam as outlined in the Koran and Sunnah (sayings and deeds of Muhammad), the state religion in Pakistan is Sunni Islam. Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the constitution, but longstanding discrimination and persecution against Christians has intensified in recent years as Islamic extremism has spread. The population is 96 percent Muslim, 1.85 percent Hindu and 1.5 percent Christian, among other tiny religious minorities. Pakistan has the second-largest number of Muslims in the world after Indonesia.
Urdu and English are the official languages, with Urdu a symbol of national, Islamic unity and English used primarily in business, government and legal matters. More than 75 percent of Pakistanis understand Urdu, but more than 60 languages are spoken in the country. The major ethnic groups are the Punjabis (44.7 percent), Pashtuns (15.4 percent), Sindhis (14.1 percent), Saraikis (8.4 percent) and Muhajirs (7.6 percent).
Longstanding political disputes and lack of foreign investment has led to the underdevelopment of Pakistan. Lack of economic opportunity contributes to widespread poverty. A large portion of the population does not have access to clean water or education.
Of the hundreds of indigenous missionaries bringing the gospel to remote areas where Christ’s name is unknown, many of them have no means of supporting their families and work by faith that the worldwide Body of Christ will support them. Devoting all their time to evangelism, discipleship and church-planting, local missionaries have established fellowships in every major city and numerous towns and villages. Thousands of communities remain unreached, however, and workers request assistance for evangelistic outreaches, distribution of gospel literature and construction of church buildings.
Multiple ministries have undertaken the challenge of meeting the need for trained church leaders. They need support for training programs to equip missionaries to teach Sunday schools, work with teenagers, adults, youth and families, lead women’s groups and plant and pastor congregations. Most of these ministries train about 100 full-time or part-time workers each year; one Bible correspondence school trains 3,000 per year.
Sources: Joshua Project, Wikipedia, CIA World Factbook
![Pakistani people harvesting crops](/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/pakistan-768x605.jpg)
How to Pray for Pakistan
- Pray for provision, courage, and wisdom for local missionaries and church leaders as they share the gospel.
- Pray missionaries, their families and those the are serving will be protected from poverty and disease.
- Pray the spread of the kingdom of God would transform communities into holy beacons of light and love.
More stories from Pakistan
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/studying-in-pakistan_pl_050723.jpg)
Provide Education to Poor Children in Pakistan
More than 185 children from poor families who work in brick kilns received education at a school that local Christian workers made available to them. Without education, such children have no way of escaping a future of working off the debts of their parents, who are essentially bonded slaves unable to escape indebtedness.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/presenting-a-bible-in-pakistan_pl_032823.jpg)
Form And Strengthen Disciples in Pakistan
A native ministry that provides Bible correspondence courses also distributes a magazine as a follow-up tool to address issues for those exploring Christianity.
![Pakistani women receive bibles](/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/PL-23.02_Day10.jpg)
Provide Bible Study Materials in Pakistan
Many people write to a local ministry about how its Bible correspondence courses have led them to Christ. The ministry sends its Bible courses to Christian youths and adults, as well as to seekers, with non-Christians representing 25 percent of those enrolled.
![Pakistani family in front of their house](/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/PL-23.01_Day8.jpg)
Help Form New Disciples in Pakistan
Local missionaries held a prayer meeting where they encouraged church members to spread the Word of God, and soon the Lord had not only grown the congregation spiritually but increased it in number. Having shared the gospel at an area home for months, the ministry leader was overjoyed that one family member recently put her faith in Christ.