People-in-Country Profile

People Selector:
Print version:
Step 1 - Select a Country:   Send us your updates!
Step 2 - Select a People:  

Jat Virk (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan

Jat Virk (Muslim traditions)

Send us a photo of this people.  [1]

Jat Virk (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan map

Flash Map
Population [2] Language Religion % Christian % Evangl Online NT Jesus Film Progress
588,000 Punjabi, Western Islam 0.00 % 0.00 % No   

Jat Virk (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan

Profile Text
Submit Profile Text:

Introduction / History
On the Pakistan side of Punjab, the Virk Jats are Muslim. Those on the Indian side are mostly Sikh. Virks still control the Pakistani city of Sheikhupura in Punjab Province politically and economically. They have a long history in that city.

What are their lives like?
Almost all the information about them found on the Internet has to do with their history. However, there are some interesting Virk Jats in modern times including Bollywood movie actresses and police chiefs.

What are their beliefs?
Though Muslim Jats are Sunnis, they are known to have a strong tradition of worshiping many local saints. Jats observe many ceremonies, especially rites of passage such as circumcision and initiation into adulthood. Like many other South Asian communities of good standing, Muslim Jats have a negative view of Christianity, because it is associated with people of low status and caste. Sunni religious practices are simple. They believe that Allah has pre-determined our fates; they minimize free will.
In most of the Muslim world, people depend on the spirit world for their daily needs since they regard Allah as too distant. Allah may determine their eternal salvation, but the spirits determine how well we live in our daily lives. For that reason, they must appease the spirits. They often use charms and amulets to help them with spiritual forces.

What are their needs?
In Pakistan there are relatively few opportunities for someone to hear the gospel from another person. With the intense persecution of religious minorities, few would dare to share Christ in this environment.
Outreach Ideas
The Virk Jats have the entire New Testament available to them in their main language, Western Punjabi. There are also gospel-oriented gospel recordings available for downloading in this language.

Prayer Points
There are no known Virk Christian believers, but please pray for any secret believers. Pray for the Lord of the Harvest to send workers to this waiting harvest field.
Pray for mission agencies to train missionaries to share the gospel message with the Virk Jat in a culturally sensitive way.
Ask God to soften hearts and draw Virk Jat elders into a relationship with God through his son.

References
https://www.jatland.com/home/Gotras
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jat_people
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jat
http://www.dawn.com/news/1077113
https://www.jatland.com/home/Jats
http://indianex

View Jat Virk (Muslim traditions) in all countries.

Prayer Links  
PrayerGuard.net
Global Prayer Digest: 2015-10-26
  Submit Update:
Country: Pakistan
Continent: Asia
Region: Asia, South
Persecution Rank:7 (Only top 50 ranked, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
10/40 Window: Yes
Population in Country:588,000
Largest Provinces:
Punjab (437,000)Sindh (109,000)
Azad Kashmir (11,000)Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (3,700)
Balochistan (100)
   
 
Maps
Submit Map:
Country Map:Political map
Ethnolinguistic Map:University of Texas or other map
 
  Peoples [3]
Submit Update:
People Name in Country: Jat Virk (Muslim traditions)
People Name General: Jat Virk (Muslim traditions)
Alternate People Names:
जाट, विर्क (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
ROP3 Code: 115902
Joshua Project People ID: 19914
Indigenous: Yes
Population in Country: 588,000
Population all Countries: 588,000
Least-Reached: Yes
   
 
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
People Cluster: South Asia Muslim - Jat
People Name General: Jat Virk (Muslim traditions)
Ethnic Code: CNN25
Ethnic Relationships: Affinity Bloc -> People Cluster -> Peoples Ethnicity Tree
   
 
Language
Submit Update:
Primary Language: Punjabi, Western (303,000 Speakers)
Language Code (ISO): pnb    Ethnologue Listing
Secondary Languages:
Saraiki (133,000)Sindhi (74,000)
Urdu (50,000)Pahari-Potwari (8,600)
Marwari (6,200)Dhatki (3,700)
Hindko, Northern (1,800)Hindko, Southern (1,400)
Bagri (500)Pashto, Northern (100)
Total Languages: 11
   
 
Religion [4]
Submit Update:
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religions:
Buddhism0.00 % 
Christianity0.00 %(Evangelical: 0.00 %)
Ethnic Religions0.00 % 
Hinduism0.00 % 
Islam100.00 % 
Non-Religious0.00 % 
Other / Small0.00 % 
Unknown0.00 % 
Christianity Segments:
Anglican0.00 %
Independent0.00 %
Protestant0.00 %
Orthodox0.00 %
Other Christian0.00 %
Roman Catholic0.00 %
 
(Evangelicals distributed across Christianity segments)
   
 
Progress Indicators [5]
Progress Scale[6]   Few evangelicals and few who claim to be Christians. Little, if any, history of Christianity.
Least-Reached: Yes
 
 
Bible Translation Status
Submit Update:
Bible Portions: 1885-1922
New Testament:
1819-2021
Complete Bible: None Reported
Possible Bible Sources: Forum of Bible Agencies
 World Bible Finder
 World Christian Resource Directory
 Gospel Go
 
 
Ministry Resources [7]
Audio RecordingsMegaVoice Audio Bible and Stories
Audio RecordingsAudio Bible teaching
Audio RecordingsDAVAR Partners recording, New Testament
Audio RecordingsLove letter to you from scripture
Audio RecordingsOnline Scripture / Bible
Audio RecordingsStory of Jesus audio
Film / VideoIndigitube.tv Video / Animation
Film / VideoJesus Film: view in Punjabi, Western
Film / VideoWorld Christian Videos
GeneralBible for Children
GeneralBiblical answers to your questions
GeneralFour Spiritual Laws
GeneralGospel resources links
GeneralGospel website in this language
GeneralZume Resources
GeneralZume Training
Text / Printed MatterBible: Punjabi, Western
Text / Printed MatterCartoon Gospel tract
Text / Printed MatterLiteracy primer for Punjabi, Western
Text / Printed MatterTools for faith conversations
Text / Printed MatterTopical Scripture booklets and Bible stu ...
 
 
Ministry Activity
Register Ministry Activity:
Networking: Visit LinkingGlobalVoices.org for networking possibilities.
Description: Register your ministry activity among this people group. Contact the Adopt-A-People Clearinghouse and Unleashed for the Unreached to learn about others that might be focused on this people group.
 
Data Notes
Data Sources
 
 

Jat Virk (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan

Peoples
               
Geographic
Global                 Global
           
  Affinity Bloc             Global  
           
   
People Cluster
       
Region
   
    South Asia Muslim - Jat     Asia, South    
     
People-Group-Across-Countries
   
Country
   
      Jat Virk (Muslim traditions) Pakistan    
            People-by-Country (Profile)          
            Jat Virk (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan          
      Religion Language  
      Islam     Punjabi, Western  
    Global    
Language
 
    All Religions                              
   
Religion
                             

Direct link:  http://legacy.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=19914&rog3=PK