Christianity in Pakistan
Christianity in Pakistan is the story of how the Lord Jesus gains converts to His Name even in the most hostile of areas. Ranked among the 10 worst places for Christians to live, this breakaway province from India exhibits great hostility towards Christians, often through a misuse of so-called blasphemy laws.
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Population of Christians
The Population of Christians as estimated by Open Doors 2024 is 4,195,000 or roughly 2% of Pakistan's 23.5 Crore or 235 Million Population.
Who is most vulnerable to persecution?
"Since by far the most Christians live in Punjab Province, many incidents of persecution, discrimination and intolerance occur there. However, next to Punjab, the province of Sindh is also notorious for being a centre for bonded labour, which affects many Christians.
Christians from a Muslim background suffer the brunt of persecution, both from radical Islamic groups who see them as apostates, and from families, friends and neighbours who see conversion as a shameful act of betrayal to family and community." [1]
"Similarly, Christians also encounter discrimination in jobs, education, and blasphemy allegations, often resulting in mob violence and attacks on churches. The community remains susceptible to both societal and legal persecution. Pakistan's legal system discriminates against religious minorities, exacerbating their marginalisation and vulnerability. The blasphemy laws are often misused to target minorities, leading to arbitrary arrests, violence, and societal ostracisation."[2]