Baloch
From Missiopedia
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| Groups | Population |
|---|---|
| Baloch, Eastern | 6,782,000 |
| Baloch, Southern | 1,067,000 |
| Baloch, Western | 1,043,000 |
| Bashkardi | 7,500 |
| Darzada | 117,000 |
| Koroshi | 300 |
| Lori | 50,000 |
| Med | 20,000 |
| Nakib | 82,000 |
| Sorozai | 57,000 |
PEOPLE PROFILE SUMMARY
IDENTITY / LOCATION
- People Name: Baloch /People Cluster Baloch
- Countries: Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan - see Balochistan, some of them live in United Arab Emirates.
- Primary Language: Balochi
- Primary Religion: Sunni Islam
- Alternate Names: Baluch Dialects Makrani, Rakhshani, Eastern Hills Location Southwest, Central, East.
Note: Southern Baloch inhabit both sides of the border between Iran and Pakistan. The border is artificial and Baloch move quite freely from one side to the other to visit family members and to engage in endemic smuggling.
POPULATION
- Total People (Year) 10 million
- Urban Percent: 30%
- In This Country: 8 million (Pakistan)
- Adult Literacy 7%
- Other Countries (Pop/Yr) 2 million (Populations are estimated due to lack of accurate census data)
SOCIO - ECONOMIC
- Occupations: Farmers, Nomadic Herders, Small Traders, Truck Drivers, Mechanics.
- Products: Wheat, Wool, Carpets, Coal, Marble(Alabaster) Items
- Trade Partners: Pakistanis of the Plains
- Diet : Rice, Wheat Bread, Chicken, Fish, Curries, Tea
- Recreation: Singing, Dancing, Poetry Reading, Soccer.
- Art Forms : Poetry, Carpet Weaving.
- Festivals: Common Muslim Festivals (End of Fasting Month, Feast of Sacrifice) Weddings.
STATUS OF CHRISTIANITY:
- Christian (500+ (0.0005%)
- True Believers: Virtually all
- True Believers (#) Approx. 500 ---
- Missionaries To (#): Currently six families
- Scriptures Available:
- Whole N.T. in Karachi Balochi published Fall 1999
- Mat.,Luke-Acts, John, Epistles in Makrani published 1991
- Christian Radio: Two 15 min.broadcasts per week on FEBA radio.
- Recordings Available:
- Jesus Film (revision in process);
- Gospel Recordings- Short Portions in Several Dialects, Groups
- Working Among: Frontiers, WEC. R.S.M.T., Christar, Global Partners
- Current Ministries: Church Planting, Bible Translation, Linguistic Analysis, Small-Scale Industrial Training, Drug Rehab
INFORMATION SOURCES
- In Afghanistan's Shadow (See Bibliography), A Cultural History of the Baloch , <irvsylvia@yahoo.com>
RESPONSIVENESS
- Attitude To Christianity Resistance/Receptivity - moderately receptive
