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Koli (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan



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Koli (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan map

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Population [2] Language Religion % Christian % Evangl Online NT Jesus Film Progress
84,000 Sindhi Islam 0.00 % 0.00 %   

Koli (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan

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Introduction / History
Very little is known about the history of the Koli people, and there is conflicting information about their origins. There are several Koli subgroups. The Koli people of Pakistan speak the Sindhi language.

According to one source, the Koli were once a fishing community.

Where are they located?
The Koli Muslim people are located in southeast Pakistan. They are primarily concentrated in the lower Thar Desert, (also known as the Great Indian Desert) east of the Indus River. Most of the Thar Desert is in India, and it forms a natural boundary between these two hostile nations. It is one of the world's largest desert regions.

What are their lives like?
The traditional occupation of the coastal Koli is fishing, although many are now employed in schools and government offices. Other Koli people work in agriculture. As sharecroppers, they raise cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, corn, and oil seeds. The biggest problem for the farmers is the control of the water supply. Some of the tribes live near the eastern tributaries of the Indus River, which overflows in July and August, serving as an irrigation system for their crops. The Koli tribes living in the eastern portion of the Thar Desert raise livestock. This region displays sand dunes with patches of clay. Camels are their transportation. Life is hard for the Thar people, especially the women who must collect firewood and water each day.

Koli people exhibit a vivid array of colors in their paintings and other artistic designs.
Some live in simple houses with thatched roofs, mud walls, and dirt floors; others live in decorative homes with tiled roofs, brick walls, and paved or cement floors.
Most of the Koli people live in poverty. Less than half of them are literate. Their social status is considered low, but not "impure." Their spiritual poverty is most desperate.

What are their beliefs?
oli people in Pakistan are 100 percent Sunni Muslim; they are unreached and unengaged. They live in an Islamic republic with a Sunni majority. Shari 'a law is increasingly applied throughout Pakistan. There is a degree of religious freedom promised to minorities by law, but in practice, non-Muslims and non-Sunnis must practice their faith cautiously or risk attack by the Sunni Muslim majority. Pakistan is noted on the Open Doors Persecution List of 50 countries as number four.

What are their needs?
The Koli people need to know that true peace and love can only be found through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Of the four Koli groups in Pakistan, only the Parkari Koachchhi have access to portions of Scripture in their own language. Due to their low literacy rate, they first need to be taught how to read so that they might understand God's word when it becomes available to them.

Evangelistic resources in the Sindhi language such as Christian radio broadcasts, television programs, and the JESUS Film are desperately needed to reach these illiterate groups. Perhaps Christian teachers will have the greatest opportunities to live and work among the Koli.

Prayer Points
Pray for a team of knowledgeable believers to help the Koli people build and maintain wells in their desert homeland.
Pray for the Koli people to have easy access to the many Christian resources that are available to them in the Sindhi language.
Pray for a disciple-making movement to begin among the Koli people and spread to other Muslim peoples in Pakistan.
Poverty and illiteracy plague the Koli people. Pray that the many gospel resources will soon be available, along with people to help them understand God's truth. Pray that the Holy Spirit will help them to turn to Jesus for answers.

References
(Profiles written by Karen Hightower of Global Prayer Digest)
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/17247/PK
http://wwwprayway.com/unreached/clusters/8081.html
http:/kcm.co.kr/bethany_eng/clusters/8081.html
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Koli-caste
http://www.dawn.com/news/1102038
http://www. Prayway.com/unreached/clusters/8081.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koli_people
https://www.revolvy.com/topic/Koli%20people&item_type=topic
https://www.operationworld.org

View Koli (Muslim traditions) in all countries.

Prayer Links  
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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:84,000
Largest Provinces:
Sindh (80,000)Islamabad (300)
   
 
Maps
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Country Map:Political map
Ethnolinguistic Map:University of Texas or other map
 
  Peoples [3]
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People Name in Country: Koli (Muslim traditions)
People Name General: Koli (Muslim traditions)
Alternate People Names:
Koli of GujaratKori
कोली (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
ROP3 Code: 113025
Joshua Project People ID: 17595
Indigenous: Yes
Population in Country: 84,000
Population all Countries: 97,000
Least-Reached: Yes
   
 
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
People Cluster: South Asia Muslim - other
People Name General: Koli (Muslim traditions)
Ethnic Code: CNN25
Ethnic Relationships: Affinity Bloc -> People Cluster -> Peoples Ethnicity Tree
   
 
Language
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Primary Language: Sindhi (65,000 Speakers)
Language Code (ISO): snd    Ethnologue Listing
Secondary Languages:
Urdu (5,700)Dhatki (4,300)
Kacchi (3,800)Koli, Wadiyari (1,600)
Saraiki (900)Koli, Kachi (600)
Koli, Parkari (600)Marwari (400)
Gurgula (100)
Total Languages: 10
   
 
Religion [4]
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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
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Bible Portions: 1825-1981
New Testament:
1890-1992Audio
Complete Bible: 1954
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 RecordingsOnline New Testament
Audio RecordingsRecorded oral Bible
Audio RecordingsStory of Jesus audio
Film / VideoIndigitube.tv Video / Animation
Film / VideoJesus Film: view in Sindhi
Film / VideoMagdalena video
Film / VideoThe Hope Video
Film / VideoWorld Christian Videos
GeneralBible for Children
GeneralBiblical answers to your questions
GeneralGospel resources links
GeneralGospel website in this language
Mobile AppDownload audio Bible app as APK file
Text / Printed MatterBible: Sindhi
Text / Printed MatterLiteracy primer for Sindhi
Text / Printed MatterTopical Scripture booklets and Bible stu ...
 
 
Ministry Activity
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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
 
 

Koli (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan

Peoples
               
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  Affinity Bloc             Global  
           
   
People Cluster
       
Region
   
    South Asia Muslim - other     Asia, South    
     
People-Group-Across-Countries
   
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      Koli (Muslim traditions) Pakistan    
            People-by-Country (Profile)          
            Koli (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan          
      Religion Language  
      Islam     Sindhi  
    Global    
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Direct link:  http://legacy.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?rog3=PK&peo3=17595