Gopang Baloch in Pakistan

The Gopang Baloch 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

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.

There are about 130 subgroups of the Baloch. One of these is the Gopang; they speak the Eastern Balochi dialect.

The Gopang Baloch generally live in remote mountainous and desert regions, which provides protection from invasions. They live mainly in the Balochistan region of the southeastern-most edge of the Iranian plateau in Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan, as well as in the Arabian Peninsula.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Gopang Baloch live according to tribal customs. Gopang Baloch men wear long shirts with long sleeves and loose pants. They sometimes wear turbans on their heads. The Baloch living in Iran observe a more conservative dress code; some women cover their faces with thick red wools and wear a head scarf and long veil.

Gold ornaments such as necklaces and bracelets are an important aspect of Baloch women's traditional attire. 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.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Gopang Baloch are predominantly Sunni Muslims but some are Shia Muslim. While Islamic teachings guide their spiritual and moral life, some traditional Baloch customs and practices are also observed, creating a unique blend of religious and cultural identity.


What Are Their Needs?

The Gopang Baloch face numerous challenges due to their remote and harsh living conditions. Access to basic services such as healthcare and education is limited, resulting in low literacy rates and inadequate medical care. Economic opportunities are also scarce, with many families struggling to make ends meet through pastoralism and small-scale farming. Infrastructure in Balochistan is underdeveloped, making transportation and communication difficult.


Prayer Points

Pray that God will supply abundant rain and a record harvest as a testimony of his goodness and power.
Pray that the Gopang Baloch may be open to Christ and his gospel.
Pray that God will provide loving workers who speak the Balochi language to work with the Gopang Baloch people.
Pray for Gopang Baloch elders to have dreams and visions of the risen Christ that will lead them to open the doors of their community to hear about his glory.


Scripture Prayers for the Baloch Gopang in Pakistan.


References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baloch_people


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Baloch Gopang
People Name in Country Baloch Gopang
Natural Name Gopang Baloch
Alternate Names बलोच, गोपांग
Population this Country 143,000
Population all Countries 143,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 3
PeopleID3 20246
ROP3 Code 115989
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
Punjab
140,000
Sindh
3,300
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
  Punjab 140,000
  Sindh 3,300
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 (100,000 speakers)
Language Code bgp   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
Saraiki
28,000
Urdu
10,000
Punjabi, Western
3,200
Sindhi
1,200
Hindko, Southern
600
Primary Language Balochi, Eastern (100,000 speakers)
Language Code bgp   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
  Saraiki 28,000
  Urdu 10,000
  Punjabi, Western 3,200
  Sindhi 1,200
  Hindko, Southern 600
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
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
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Balochi, Eastern Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Balochi Bible stories General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Balochi, Eastern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: The Bible - Balochi (Hodáay Pákén Ketáb) General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible app: Wasshén ahwál (the Scriptures in Balochi) Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App Android Bible app: Zabur Balóchi zobáná General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Balochi Folktales General / Other
Mobile App Android Dictionary app: Uppsala University Balochi-English Dictionary General / Other
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Balochi, Eastern YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Pákén kessah gón aksán (Balochi picture Bible stories) Forum Linguistik in Eurasien e.V.
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Wasshén ahwál (the Scriptures in Balochi) Institute for Bible Translation
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Zabur Balóchi Forum Linguistik in Eurasien e.V.
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.


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