Christianity is Pakistan’s third-largest religion, representing approximately 1.37% of the total population (roughly 3.3 million people) according to the 2023 Census. The community is primarily concentrated in the Punjab province, where nearly 75% of Pakistani Christians reside.
Demographics & Geography
- Regional Concentration: Punjab is the heartland of the community, followed by Sindh (especially Karachi), and the Islamabad Capital Territory, which has the highest percentage of Christians at roughly 4.26%.
- Major Denominations: The population is split between the Catholic Church and the Church of Pakistan (a union of Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran bodies). Smaller groups include Pentecostals and the New Apostolic Church.
- Socio-Economic Background: Approximately 90–95% of Christians are Punjabi Dalits who converted from lower-caste Hinduism during the British Raj to escape the caste system. A smaller, more affluent minority consists of Goan Christians and Anglo-Indians, primarily based in Karachi.
Historical Background
- Early Roots: Tradition attributes the arrival of Christianity to the Apostle Thomas in the 1st century AD (Taxila), though continuous evidence is lacking.
- Mughal Era: Jesuit missions arrived in the 16th century under Emperor Akbar, establishing small communities in Lahore and Agra.
- Mass Movement: The majority of today’s community descends from a “Mass Movement” (1868–1931) where large groups of the Chuhra caste converted through the work of Protestant missionaries like John Lowrie.
Contemporary Issues
The Christian community in Pakistan faces significant legal and social challenges:
- Blasphemy Laws: These laws, which carry a potential death penalty for insulting Islam or the Prophet Muhammad, are frequently used to target Christians in personal or land disputes. High-profile cases include Asia Bibi, who was acquitted after eight years on death row.
- Mob Violence: Allegations of blasphemy have led to large-scale riots, such as the 2023 Jaranwala attacks where over 20 churches were burned.
- Socio-Economic Marginalization: Due to their caste history, many Christians remain trapped in generational poverty, overrepresented in menial labor like sanitation work and brick kiln debt bondage.
- Recent Legal Reform: In February 2026, the Punjab government signed an ordinance raising the minimum legal age of marriage to 18 to combat the forced marriage and conversion of Christian girls.
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