Pakistan
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Official name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan |
DEMOGRAPHY
ECONOMY |
LIFE & LIBERTY |
Contents |
[edit] Geography
[edit] Location
- Pakistan is a republic in South Asia, marking the region where South Asia converges with Central Asia and the Middle East. It has a 650-mile coastline along the Arabian Sea in the south, and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far north east.
[edit] Climate
[edit] Natural Resources
[edit] Demographics
[edit] Peoples
- Unreached People Groups: Over 160 ethnic groups and 40 language groups do not have viable, indigenous congregations or an effective cross-cultural missions initiative.
[edit] Languages
- Hindko: Possibly five million people in northern Pakistan are Hindko speakers. Made up of several ethnic groups, mostly Pathans and Moghuls, the Hindko are more of a language group than a people group. Hindko speakers make their living as farmers or merchants in the foothills of the Himalayas. Corn and wheat are the most important crops. These grains are ground into flour and used to make a flat bread that accompanies every meal. The people lead very simple lives, but often go to great lengths to secure an education and a better future for their children. Only about 25% of Hindko speakers can read in any language.
- Pakistan is the sixth most populous country and has the second largest Muslim population after Indonesia. It is considered a frontline state in the War on Terror. Pray for the GRN team in Pakistan working hard to bring hope and life there through the languages they like to record:
- Aer,
- Badeshi,
- Balochi,
- Bhaya,
- Brahui,
- Burushaski,
- Chilisso,
- Dameli,
- Dehwari,
- Dhatki,
- Domaaki,
- Ghera.
[edit] Provinces
- Balochistan,
- the North West Frontier Province (NWFP),
- the adjacent Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
[edit] Life
- The remote mountains of north-western Pakistan may be a long way from Britain's bustling streets, but the unfolding humanitarian crisis there is hitting home across the miles. Saudi Arabia aside, the UK has the largest overseas Pakistani community and some have friends and family directly caught up in the region's bloody fighting. In the tribal area of Waziristan, tens of thousands of civilians fled their homes this week as Pakistan's army continued to pound the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Pray for an end to this conflict and for those who are made into refugees as a result of the crisis.
[edit] Children in Pakistan
- Maternal mortality rate: 350-600 per 100,000 births
- Under 5 years who die due to preventable disease: 10%
- % of children chronically malnourished: 30%
- % of school age children with primary school education: 50%
- % of Pakistani women who are literate: 33%
- Under 14 years working (mostly hazardous, exploitative labor): 3.6 million
(Source: UNICEF)
[edit] Education
- With Pakistan's public education system in shambles, the poorest families turn to the Islamic madrassas to feed, house, educate children (New York Times).
[edit] Economy
[edit] Government
- Type of Government: Republic
- Pakistan is a country in flux. The election that took place on 27 July 2008 was mostly fair and free of violence. Pray that the political parties demonstrate maturity to ensure a smooth transition to democracy. Pray that the democratic process in the country might be consolidated allowing Christians a greater freedom in their witness and mission.
- Please continue to pray for Pakistan. There is more instability in Pakistan to report with the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team and the ceding of territory to the Taliban by an ineffectual government trying to appease the militants. There is growing fear that the government could fall to the radical Islamists who want to take over and use the nuclear arsenal against other nations they consider enemies of Islam. Pray that the Taliban-Al Qaeda alliance and the Council of United Mujihadeen (three Pakistan Taliban groups) will not be able to mount a major Spring offensive against NATO forces in Afghanistan and that they will break up, dissolving as a military and political threat. Pray too for hundreds of thousands who have been displaced by this growing instability and violence and for the Christian minority who are caught in the midst of it all.
- As Pakistani commandos took on Taliban fighters and civilians caught in the middle continued to flee, Pakistan's president appealed to the world on Tuesday to help more than 1 million people facing "a human catastrophe." (May 2009)
- According to BBC News, there are reports that elements of the Taliban and even Al Qaeda are fighting against each other during the Pakistani military’s offensive against them in the NW area of the country. We have been praying for them to be “thrown into confusion and conflict among themselves until they are dissolved as an instrument of destruction in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. Let’s continue to pray in this manner. Something appears to be happening! Also pray for an end of radicals’ threats against Christian individuals and institutions and for effective relief efforts for the hundreds of thousands of civilians (maybe more than a million) who have had to evacuate the region due to the fighting. (May 2009)
[edit] Terrorism
- The government of Pakistan is a major partner in the U.S. war on terror. Nevertheless, Pakistan remains a major source of Islamic extremism and a safe haven for some top terrorist leaders. Credible reports estimated that as many as 900 Pakistanis lost their lives in more than 650 terror attacks in 2006, with another 1,500 people seriously injured. Pakistan has experienced attacks from international terror networks such as Al Qaeda and its supporters, as well as violence stemming from Sunni-Shi'a sectarian strife and militant sub-nationalists. Attacks occurred with greatest frequency in the regions bordering Afghanistan: Balochistan, the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), and the adjacent Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
- International terror organizations, including Al Qaeda and its supporters, operated and carried out attacks in Pakistan, according to Country Reports on Terrorism 2007. Violence stemming from Sunni-Shia sectarian strife and militant sub-nationalists also claimed civilian lives. Attacks occurred with greatest frequency in the regions bordering Afghanistan: Balochistan, the Northwest Frontier Province and the adjacent federally administered tribal areas (FATA). But militant attacks continued to grow and target urban centers including Karachi, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi.
- The trend and sophistication of suicide bombings grew in Pakistan this year. The December 27, 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, in a suicide bombing after a political rally in Rawalpindi, was the most prominent suicide attack. Between 2002 and 2006, the Department recorded approximately 22 suicide attacks in the country, whereas in 2007 there were over 45 such attacks. These suicide attacks often resulted in large numbers of casualties, and several occurred in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
- The Taliban are very active, brutal and have a network all over Pakistan. They have closed more than two hundred schools for the children in only one city. They burnt up many of those schools. They are following those who are teachers by profession. Except slaying people like animals, they do nothing. One million people left their homes, town, properties and belongings and migrated to other cities to save their lives. The Taliban do not know about Islamic Law but they do all of this in the name of Allah. There is no security being provided in that area. Taliban are against those who send their daughters to schools. In the bazaars they slay people and throw them on the spot. I would like to ask you to please pray individually and in your church against this Talibanism. Pray against these strongholds and for the safety of those human beings who reside there. May God bless you.
- Two and a half million have fled Swat valley as Pakistan faces months of fighting. Up to 2,500,000 terrified residents of Pakistan's Swat valley have fled or else are desperately trying to leave as the military steps up an operation using fighter jets and helicopter gunships to "eliminate" Taliban fighters. As the military intensified what may be its most determined operation to date against militant extremists, the UN said 2,000,000 people had already arrived in safe areas in the past few days while another 1,300,000 were on the move or were poised to leave.
- A suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into a police station in Lahore, headquarters of emergency services and an office of an intelligence agency. The bomb killed about 30 people and injured over 350. There was a huge loss of property as well. (May 2009)
- At least 80 people have been killed and scores hurt by a large car bomb in a market in Peshawar, Pakistan, 28 October 2009. It was one of the deadliest attacks in the country this year. Similar attacks have killed more than 200 people in recent weeks, as the army carries out an operation against Taliban militants in South Waziristan. Continue to pray for the cessation of this conflict and for the families and relatives bereaved by the killings.
- Suicide bombers launched a coordinated attack in Lahore, Pakistan on Friday, March 12, 2010. At least 45 people were killed and nearly 100 wounded. It was the second attack in Lahore in less than a week. There were also reports that smaller, “low-intensity” bomb attacks – as many as 9 – were carried out though the weekend. Another Taliban attack took place on Saturday, March 13 in the Swat region of northern Pakistan, killing at least 14 people and wounding 50. The Taliban has taken credit for two devastating suicide bombings that took place in Lahore, Pakistan on Friday, March 12, 2010. On Monday, March 7, the Taliban destroyed a security agency building in Lahore, killing 13. A spokesmen for the Taliban threatened they would conduct 3,000 suicide attacks all across Pakistan if the military did not immediately curtail its attempt to capture or destroy members of the terrorist organization.
- Several of the top leaders of the Taliban have been arrested or killed recently in an accelerated military campaign by the Pakistani army and Allied forces. The bombings carried out on Friday, March 12, were set off within 20 seconds of each other. Two motorcycle drivers rammed into army vehicles and set off their explosives. Lahore is the capital of Punjab province and is considered the cultural center of Pakistan. Until the recent outbreak of attacks, it managed to avoid much of the violence that has plagued the nation. In the past year, terrorist attacks have killed hundreds of civilians in Pakistan. In Lahore alone there have been 180 deaths. Another Taliban attack took place on Saturday, March 13 in the Swat region of northern Pakistan, killing at least 14 people and wounding 50. On Sunday, Pakistani military forces killed 17 militants in an air strike on a Taliban hideout in the northwestern tribal region. (March 2010)
[edit] Religion
- Islam 96.1%, Christianity 2.3%, Hinduism 1.5%, Other 0.1%. Pakistan is an Islamic republic. There is growing support for Islamic Shari’a law and discrimination against non-Muslim and Muslim minorities is on the increase. Churches, pastors and Muslim background believers are targets of violence.
[edit] Islam
[edit] Buddhism
[edit] Christianity
2%
[edit] History
[edit] Churches
- Persecution and intimidation try to keep Christians living in fear. Pray that they would stand firm in the authority of Jesus and have the courage to share their faith despite the troubles they face.
- Christians from a Muslim background face possible execution under the Shari’a law. Most are too frightened to openly follow Jesus because they would risk their lives or rejection from their families. There could be thousands following Jesus in secret. Pray for their protection.
[edit] Persecution
- Pakistan is ranked No. 15 among nations that are the worst persecutors of Christians based on Open Doors 2008 World Watch List.
- Christians from a Muslim background face possible execution under the Shari’a law. Most are too frightened to openly follow Jesus because they would risk their life or rejection from their families. There are could be thousands following Jesus in secret. Pray for their protection.
- Islam is the state religion, the 2% Christians (but only 0,4% Evangelicals) have on the paper some special rights. Accusations of blasphemy are a constant threat to the significant Christian minority - death is the prescribed sentence for anyone guilty of defiling Muhammad. Arrests and imprisonment for blasphemy take place without a warrant or bail. Ill-treatment in custody is common. Judicial proceedings may take years, suspects are often murdered. Persecution is a growing reality since 1991. Everything conspires to make Christians fearful and silent, yet the Church has grown.
- Muslim-background Christians particularly under threat; possibly thousands of secret believers only a small number identify openly as Christians. All too often, believers have the double trauma of rejection by their community and then non-acceptance by the Christian community.
- Praise God that death sentences have always been overturned by higher courts. But they have suffered for many years in prison.
- At least nine Pakistani Christians in one village have reportedly received letters threatening them to convert to Islam on September 3, 2008, the Minorities Concern of Pakistan (MCP) has reported. The letters threatened death or eviction from the area in case the recipients did not convert to Islam.
- The Christian brothers and sisters in Gojira are still waiting for relief from the Government, but they have got nothing. They have lost their homes, which were burned by the M. There were about 230 homes which were totally burned and about 35 people were burned alive, in which there were young girls, women, and children. Lots of people are badly injured and are in between life and death situation. They are waiting for help but our Government only made political promises. So Christians in Pakistan have decided to use their resources and have trust in our lord who is their provider. So we are raising funds for our Christians who were persecuted a lot in Gojira and after Gojira incident there were couple of more incidents like this began in other areas but was not huge like that. In one place M men torn the cloths of young Christian girls in their homes, raped them and threw them out in the street in naked condition. PRAY!!!
- Christians in Pakistan are soft targets for attacks by Islamic extremists. Over the ast four months 2009 alone twelve Christians have been killed by Muslims due to their faith.
[edit] Church and State Relations
[edit] Mission
- Pakistan Outreach Ministries
[edit] Broadcasting
- Daily programs to Pakistan and Afghanistan are broadcast by Radio Payam-e-Hayat and affiliated groups [1]
[edit] Councils and Networks
- Pakistan Evangelical Christian Alliance
[edit] Future Trends
[edit] For More Reading
