Mahtam (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan

The Mahtam (Muslim traditions) have only been reported in Pakistan
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

There are many differing stories of the origins of the Mahtam people. No one seems to be certain about their history or origin.


Where Are they Located?

The Mahtam community is mainly in the region stretching from Dera Ghazi Khan in the west, and Lahore in the northeast. Lahore is Pakistan's most culturally influential city.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Mahtam women have almost no freedoms or educational opportunities and suffer from domestic abuse. Most Mahtam people tend to work in the service sector, agriculture, and light industry. High inflation and widespread corruption are crippling factors in Pakistan's economic development, and that affects the Mahtam people. Severe shortages of electricity and gas disrupt normal life and reduce the effectiveness of industry. Poverty affects much of the Mahtam population. Their spiritual poverty is even more desperate.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Mahtam people in Pakistan are 100 percent Sunni Muslim; they are unreached and unengaged. Portions of the New Testament, and Bible portions have been translated into Western Punjabi, a language the Mahtam people can understand. Audio resources and the JESUS Film are also available. Technology opens spiritual doors for those who dare to seek truth.

There is a degree of religious freedom promised ethnic minorities by Pakistani law, but in practice, non-Sunnis must practice their faith cautiously and under varying degrees of threat from Islamists. According to Open Doors, Pakistan is the fourth worst nation in regards to persecution of Christians.


What Are Their Needs?

Basics of quality life are not easily attainable for the Mahtam people. Most schools in Pakistan are Islamic (est. 20,000) or expensive private schools. They offer little education beyond memorizing the Koran, and push the brand of Islam preferred by militants. Financial and social inducements to convert to Islam also present a problem to non-Muslims, who are generally poorer and have fewer career and education opportunities.
Operation World reports that Pakistan's government alternates between civilian parties and autocratic military dictatorships. Despite its constitution, shari 'a law is increasingly applied in Pakistan.


Prayer Points

Pray that media tools such as radio, TV, literature, and dreams and visions will break through the spiritual barriers holding the Mahtam people back.
Pray that God will send his workers to this field.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will draw them out, disciple them, and make them fishers of the men.
Pray that they will be willing to take the message of salvation through Jesus Christ alone to their communities.


Scripture Prayers for the Mahtam (Muslim traditions) in Pakistan.


References

https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/17409/PK
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahtam
https://www.jatland.com/home/Mahtam
https://www.revolvy.com/topic/Mahtam&item_type=topic
https://joshuaproject.net/people_grops/18131/IN
https://gloalprayerdigest.org/index.php/Issue/day/Mahtan-people-in-Gurgaon-City/
https://operationworld.org


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Mahtam (Muslim traditions)
People Name in Country Mahtam (Muslim traditions)
Pronunciation mah-TAHM
Alternate Names Rai Sikh; महटाम (मुस्लिम ट्रेडिशन्स)
Population this Country 318,000
Population all Countries 318,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 6
PeopleID3 17409
ROP3 Code 112809
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 4
Largest States
Punjab
305,000
Sindh
13,000
Balochistan
300
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
60
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 4
  Punjab 305,000
  Sindh 13,000
  Balochistan 300
  Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 60
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 Punjabi, Western (176,000 speakers)
Language Code pnb   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
Saraiki
101,000
Urdu
26,000
Sindhi
8,700
Marwari (Pakistan)
7,600
Bagri
800
Dhatki
200
Hindko, Northern
60
Primary Language Punjabi, Western (176,000 speakers)
Language Code pnb   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 8
Secondary Languages
  Saraiki 101,000
  Urdu 26,000
  Sindhi 8,700
  Marwari (Pakistan) 7,600
  Bagri 800
  Dhatki 200
  Hindko, Northern 60
People Groups Speaking Punjabi, Western

Primary Language:  Punjabi, Western

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1885-1922)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1819-2021)
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
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, New Testament DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Audio Recordings Online Scripture / Bible General / Other
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Punjabi, Western Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Gospel website in this language General / Other
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app: Punjabi, Western YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Punjabi, Western YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Cartoon Gospel tract General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Punjabi, Western Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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