• Most Christians live in Punjab Province, so that’s where the most incidents take place.  

• However, the province of Sindh is notorious for being a hotspot for bonded labour, affecting many Christians.  

• In Pakistan’s two other provinces – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan – there are fewer Christians, but their isolation means that they are more exposed to violence. 

“We are a lower class because we are Christians,” says Rehena*. She works long hours in a factory under poor conditions – there are 600,000 Christian women in a similar position to Rehena. She adds, “We have no right to any privileges and have no right to dignity. It is an insult to Muslims to eat with us off the same plate. If we touch their plate, it becomes defiled.” 

She can’t talk about her faith at work at all. “At work, it is dangerous to discuss my faith in Jesus in any way. We cannot even say the name of Christ. I remember one woman who used to work in the same factory where I am – she whispered the name of Jesus under her breath. Her floor manager heard her, and began to harass her. One day, he tried to touch her.” When she rejected his advances, he kicked her out of the factory. A few days later, she was accused of blasphemy. 

The country’s blasphemy laws are often used this way – to settle scores, and to target members of minority religions. Even baseless accusations can severely endanger someone.  

But Rehena is firm in her faith, despite what it costs her. “If I must choose between Jesus and a better life, the choice is not difficult,” she says. “Jesus is the only way. I have chosen already: Jesus, my Jesus. This is what I cling to.” 

• Not much has changed this year, with Pakistan remaining at number eight on the World Watch List, meaning life for many Christians remains bleak.  

• Whilst incidents of violence remain relatively low, it’s largely because Christians have been forced to keep quiet about their faith – and that speaks volumes of the dangers many face in Pakistan for following Jesus.  

Open Doors supports several partners in the region who work through churches to help persecuted believers. That work includes education, health and relief work, biblical literacy and leadership training, and livelihood projects.