Discover
The identity of the nation
Pakistan was born in 1947 as a homeland for the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent, and today it is the second largest Muslim country in the world by population. It is a nation of stark contrasts: some of the highest mountains on the planet to the north, the vast fertile Indus River valley in the center, and deserts and coastline to the south. From Sufi poetry (the mystical current of Islam) to urban religious schools, from tribal life in the northwest to metropolises like Karachi and Lahore, Pakistan brings together dozens of peoples, languages and traditions under the common banner of Islam.
Faith shapes almost every aspect of public and private life: the call to prayer five times a day, the Islamic calendar, civil laws inspired by Islamic religious law. For the overwhelming majority, to be Pakistani is to be Muslim, and stepping outside that identity carries a high social cost. Even so, the country has a small but historic Christian community, present since the nineteenth century, and signs that in some places men and women are seeking answers to spiritual questions that formal Islam does not satisfy.
Pakistan is one of the countries with the highest concentration of unreached peoples in the world. Groups such as the Pashtuns, Sindhis, Saraikis and Baloch together number tens of millions of people with very little or no access to the gospel in their own language and culture. Most live under strong tribal honor codes, in which abandoning Islam is seen as betraying the family and the people, not merely an individual religious choice.
Pakistani Christians, mostly descended from communities that converted during the British colonial period, face social discrimination and are often relegated to jobs considered dishonorable by other groups. Blasphemy laws are used disproportionately against religious minorities, making public expression of faith a real risk. Despite this, the Pakistani church endures, with notable stories of perseverance and, in some cases, quiet growth.
For those who feel called to pray and serve this nation, Pakistan calls for patience, humility and deep respect for the culture and family honor that structure the life of its people. It is spiritually arid ground in many ways, but every small sign of openness to the gospel carries immense value.
- 8th century Arab traders bring Islam to the Sindh region, marking the beginning of Islamization.
- 16th-19th centuries The region is part of the Mughal Empire and later comes under British colonial rule in India.
- 1930 Poet and philosopher Muhammad Iqbal is the first to propose the idea of a separate state for the Muslims of the subcontinent.
- 1940 The Muslim League formally adopts the two-nation theory in the Lahore Resolution.
- 1947 Independence and partition of British India; Pakistan is born as a Muslim country, divided into a western and an eastern wing.
- 1971 Civil war leads to the separation of East Pakistan, which becomes Bangladesh.
- Today One of the largest Muslim populations in the world, marked by political instability, economic challenges and regional tensions.
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Urdunational and administrative language, mother tongue of about 9% of the population, but understood by most
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Punjabimost widely spoken as a mother tongue, about 37% of the population, mainly in Punjab
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Pashtoabout 18%, spoken mostly in the northwest, among the Pashtuns
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Sindhiabout 14%, predominant in Sindh province
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Saraikiabout 12%, spoken in southern Punjab
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Balochiabout 3%, spoken in Balochistan
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Englishofficial language alongside Urdu, used in government, courts and higher education
Pakistan has extreme landscapes: to the north, the icy peaks of the Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Hindu Kush, including K2, the second highest mountain in the world. In the center, the vast fertile plain watered by the Indus River sustains most of the country's agriculture and population. To the south, the Arabian Sea coastline holds the port of Karachi, and to the west stretches the arid plateau of Balochistan.
Major cities
- KarachiLargest city and main port of the country, financial center
- LahoreCultural and historic capital of Punjab, symbol of the Mughal period
- IslamabadFederal capital, a planned and administrative city
- FaisalabadMajor industrial and textile center
- PeshawarGateway to the tribal northwest, near the border with Afghanistan
Climate and temperature
Biryani
Spiced rice layered with meat, chicken or lamb, a dish for celebrations and special occasions.
Nihari
Meat stew slow-cooked for hours, considered by many the national dish.
Karahi
Chicken or lamb sauteed in a tomato and spice sauce, served in the pan it is cooked in.
Lassi
A drink made from whipped yogurt, sweet or savory, refreshing in the heat.
Chai
Black tea boiled with milk and spices, drunk several times a day throughout the country.
Kheer
Sweet rice pudding with milk, cardamom and dried fruit, a traditional dessert.
Understand
Culture and spirituality
2a · The culture
Family honor above all
Personal decisions, including religious ones, are seen as decisions of the whole family and clan.
Generous hospitality
Welcoming a guest well is a matter of honor, even in families of modest means.
Islam as national identity
Being Pakistani is deeply tied to being Muslim in popular perception.
Society divided by gender
Many social and religious spaces are separated between men and women.
Sufi poetry and music
Mystical Islamic traditions, such as qawwali, have a strong cultural presence.
Ethnic diversity under one country
Punjabis, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Baloch and other peoples coexist with strong regional identities.
- Openly criticizing Islam Provokes an immediate reaction and can put the person and those they are speaking with at risk.
- Physical contact between men and women who are strangers A handshake or closeness only when the other person offers it.
- Photographing people, especially women, without permission Seen as invasive and disrespectful.
- Using the left hand to eat or hand something over Considered impure in many social contexts.
- Discussing religious conversion in public A sensitive and potentially dangerous topic both for the convert and for whoever invited the discussion.
- Ignoring modest dress customs Discreet clothing avoids embarrassment and signals respect.
2b · The field
Areas of spiritual battle and cultural captivity to cover in prayer. Tap each point to understand:
Fear of dishonoring the family keeps many from openly considering the Christian faith.
Changing religion is felt as betraying the nation and the people, not just the ancestral faith.
Used to intimidate and even persecute religious minorities.
Christians and other minorities are relegated to jobs considered dishonorable.
Practices involving amulets, healers and saints' shrines coexist with official Islam.
Internal tensions within Islam generate sporadic violence between the two branches.
Women have limited decision-making freedom in many families.
Undermines public trust in government and justice.
Radical groups press for stricter interpretations of Islamic law.
Pashtuns, Baloch and other groups have very little contact with the gospel.
Being a Christian in Pakistan means living as part of a small minority within a nation that strongly links national identity with Islamic faith. The country’s blasphemy laws, which carry severe penalties for anyone accused of insulting Islam or its prophet, are used disproportionately against Christians and other religious minorities, often in personal or land disputes that have nothing to do with religion. A single accusation, even without evidence, can spark mob violence against the accused, their family and the entire Christian community around them.
Most Pakistani Christians descend from communities that converted during the British colonial period and today face structural discrimination: they are often relegated to jobs such as street cleaning and sewage work, considered impure by other religious groups, with little labor protection and hazardous conditions. Christians who convert from Muslim families face even greater pressure, sometimes losing contact with their own family or facing direct threats.
Despite the difficult environment, Christian communities remain firm in several regions of the country, sustaining churches, schools and social work. The perseverance of the Pakistani church, often quiet and under pressure, is a testimony of faith amid adversity.
The persecution score runs from 0 to 100: the higher it is, the greater the pressure on Christians.
Pakistan is among the countries with the highest concentration of unreached peoples on the planet. Of the 773 identified ethnic groups, the overwhelming majority live without any established Christian community in their own language and culture, including large peoples such as the Pashtuns, Sindhis, Saraikis and Baloch, who together number tens of millions of people. The country's historic Christian presence is small and concentrated in a few ethnic groups, leaving the vast majority of the population with virtually no access to the gospel.
- 255.3M Unreached 99,1%
- 0 Minimally reached 0,0%
- 0 Superficially reached 0,0%
- 0 Partially reached 0,0%
- 0 Significantly reached 0,0%
- 765 Unreached 99,0%
- 0 Minimally reached 0,0%
- 0 Superficially reached 0,0%
- 0 Partially reached 0,0%
- 0 Significantly reached 0,0%
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Bhil
Koli Mahadev Frontier
Goriya muçulmano Frontier
Saini hindu Frontier
Jat gil hindu Frontier
Pashtun Lodhi (Dalazak) Frontier
Muslim Gujjar Frontier
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Pray
Intercede for this nation
Every nation carries a redemptive purpose. Marks that seem woven into the identity God desires to restore:
Go
Practical details for those who want to go
Local time
Cost of living
average price in Karachi
Cost by city
Reference values (source: Numbeo). Confirm before traveling.
Practical points for those who go
- Learn at least basic phrases in Urdu: it opens doors and shows respect, even where English is spoken.
- Dress modestly and conservatively, covering arms and legs, especially for women.
- Respect Islamic prayer times, which pause much of public life five times a day.
- Have patience with bureaucracy and deadlines, which tend to be more flexible than expected.
- Avoid discussing politics or religion with strangers, sensitive and potentially risky topics.
- Stay cautious about safety when traveling, especially in border areas and tribal regions.
Send and sustain
Not everyone goes, everyone takes part
Not everyone goes. Everyone takes part.
Behind every worker among these peoples stands a network of people who pray without ceasing, care for the family left behind, and faithfully sustain the work. Sending is mission too.
Start with your church: introduce this nation, adopt it in ongoing prayer, and walk alongside those God is raising up to go.