The Baloch people live in the southernmost region of the Iranian plateau in Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. They speak the Balochi language. It is believed that the name "Baloch" is derived from the name of the Babylonian king and god Belus. Some believe the word is a derivation of Sanskrit words "Bal" meaning strength and "Och" meaning high or magnificent.
The Baloch claim their origins to be in Aleppo in what is now Syria. They are descendants of Hazrat Ameer Hamza, the uncle of Islamic prophet Muhammad. Based on an analysis of the linguistic connections of the Balochi language, the original homeland of the Balochi tribes was likely the east or southeast area of the central Caspian region.
They now live in the southern part of Pakistan with some of them in neighboring Iran and Afghanistan. There are three major Baloch dialects. One of these is Eastern Balochi, spoken by the Khetran subgroup.
The Khetran Baloch live according to tribal customs. They are separated into a number of different tribes. Baloch men wear long shirts with long sleeves and loose pants. They sometimes wear turbans on their heads. Gold ornaments such as necklaces and bracelets are an important aspect of Baloch women's traditions. They usually wear a gold brooch that is used to fasten two parts of the dress together over the chest. They pass traditions to children through oral history retelling. The tradition of a Baloch mother singing lullabies to her children has played an important role in the transfer of knowledge from generation to generation for many centuries.
The Khetran Baloch follow Sunni Islam, practicing regular prayers, fasting during Ramadan, and observing Islamic festivals. Mosques serve as important centers for worship and social gatherings. While Islamic teachings guide their spiritual and moral lives, they also observe some traditional Baloch customs, creating a unique blend of religious and cultural identity.
The Khetran Baloch face numerous challenges due to their remote and harsh living conditions. Limited access to basic services such as healthcare and education results in low literacy rates and inadequate medical care. Economic opportunities remain scarce, with many families struggling to sustain themselves through pastoralism and small-scale farming. Underdeveloped infrastructure in Balochistan complicates transportation and communication.
Pray that the Khetran Baloch may be open to Christ and his gospel.
Pray that God will provide workers who speak the Balochi language to work with the Baloch peoples.
Pray that God will give dreams and visions of Christ to Khetran elders.
Scripture Prayers for the Baloch Khetran in Pakistan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baloch_people
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Baloch Khetran |
People Name in Country | Baloch Khetran |
Natural Name | Khetran Baloch |
Alternate Names | बलोच, खेतरं |
Population this Country | 49,000 |
Population all Countries | 49,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 20248 |
ROP3 Code | 115991 |
ROP25 Code | 300774 |
ROP25 Name | Baloch |
Country | Pakistan | |||
Region | Asia, South | |||
Continent | Asia | |||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||
National Bible Society | Website | |||
Persecution Rank | 7 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||
Total States on file | 2 | |||
Largest States |
|
Country | Pakistan |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 7 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 2 |
Balochistan 47,000 | |
Punjab 1,900 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Islam |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
100.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest Pakistan census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Balochi, Eastern (25,000 speakers) | ||||||
Language Code | bgp Ethnologue Listing | ||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||
Total Languages | 6 | ||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Balochi, Eastern (25,000 speakers) |
Language Code | bgp Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 6 |
Secondary Languages | |
Khetrani 15,000 | |
Pashto, Central 5,400 | |
Saraiki 1,600 | |
Balochi, Southern 600 | |
Urdu 100 | |
People Groups | Speaking Balochi, Eastern |
Primary Language: Balochi, Eastern
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1815-1906) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1901-1906) |
Bible-Complete | No |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | Online |
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Map Source | People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |