Pakistani Muslims

Quick Facts

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Place of Origin:  Pakistan is located in South Asia and shares an eastern border with India and a north-eastern border with China. Iran makes up the country's south-west border, and Afghanistan runs along its western and northern edge.
Religion:  About 96% of Pakistani Muslims follow  Islamic traditions, and most of them belong to the Sunni branch of Islam.
Population:  216.6 million
The meaning of the Pakistan flag: the crescent and the star are Muslim symbols which are represented on the flag. The color green is the color affiliated with their main religion of Islam. The white field represents religious & ethnic minorities (especially Christian) found in Pakistan (a good website that explains this is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Pakistan).
Status in GTA:  There are at least 5 existing Pakistani-background churches in  GTA (in Brampton, Etobicoke, & Mississauga). There are few known Pakistani Muslim-background followers of Jesus in the GTA. 

When did Pakistani Muslims first come to Canada?

Pakistani Muslims began migrating to Canada in small numbers in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Many of them were professionals, students, and economic migrants from middle-class backgrounds. In 1976, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau revised the Immigration Act, which caused an increase in Pakistani Muslim immigration to Canada.

Where do Pakistani Muslims predominantly gather in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)?

A number of Pakistani Muslims live in East York (Thorncliffe Park), Brampton, Rexdale, Milton, Richmond Hill, Pickering, Markham, Mississauga.
Population estimate in the GTA: 128,845+

What are Pakistani Muslims' lives like?

  • Many Pakistani Muslims are wealthy and are in the field jobs of doctors, engineers and lawyers.
  • Pakistani Muslims are very proud of their culture and historical background.  When they have conversations with individuals, they  find ways to include their cultural and historical background. 
  • Many Pakistani Muslims in Canada get the impression that other individuals assume they are part of ISIS because of the way they dress
  • Family bonds are very important to them.
  • One of the ways they connect with each other is through sports, mainly cricket.

What do Pakistani Muslims believe?

  • Pakistani Muslims believe in one God, Allah, and that the Prophet Mohammed was the final messenger from Allah.
  • The Quran, which means “reciting”, plays a pivotal role in their lives and social organisations. It is encouraged that they read the Quran daily and pray five times a day.
  • There are three major  Pakistani Muslim groups in Islam: Sunnis, Shia, and Ahmadiyya.
  • On religious holidays and occasions Pakistani Muslims make trips to the nearest mosque.
  • They typically worship at mosques alongside other Muslims.

PRAY
for Pakistani Muslims in the GTA

  • Please pray for S as she hosts a bi-weekly Chai and Chat time in her apartment. It is open to ladies in her community in Thorncliffe Park. Pray that these meetings keep leading to opportunities to share the good news. A good number of ladies and children continue to participate. S's husband J also meets with some of the husbands during these times. S would like to have one out of the two meetings per month be more spiritual-based in nature. Please pray that the ladies will want to do this each month. The other meeting each month can be a time to do other things together, such as crafts, exercise, community projects, etc.
  • Please pray for J and J as they work on virtual and on-site prayer walks for the Thorncliffe Park community.  Pray that they will lead people to be involved with the ministry here and that their prayers will help further the Kingdom of God amongst the people here.
  • Ask God to bring at least one gospel-centered Christian friend into the life of each GTA Pakistani Muslim’s life & find ways to serve them.
  • Pray that GTA believers who have any training in evangelism to Muslims (e.g., Al Massira, Bridges, Engaging the Nations booklet, etc) will be burdened to reach out to GTA Pakistani Muslims.
  • Pray for Pakistani Muslims to have visions and dreams of Jesus that lead to salvation.
  • Pray that God will send out more followers of Jesus into the Pakistani Muslim-background harvest to help Christians already there, and find Persons of Peace, who will be instrumental in sharing the Gospel with other Pakistani Muslims.
  • Pray for GTA's Pakistani Christians to take the difficult step of reaching out to Pakistani Muslims here via hosting them for meals and holiday celebrations.     

Resources

Urban Research Assisting Churches is a website that seeks to provide an accessible online portal for receiving and sharing tools, information, expertise, and resources related to engaging and embracing the diverse peoples of Canada. Click the Ureach Toronto Logo for more resources on Pakistani Muslims.
Prayercast is a website dedicated to activating prayer around the world.
For prayer resources on Pakistani peoples, click the Prayercast logo.