Beautiful, historic Lahore is situated on the banks of the Ravi River in the middle of the Punjab province of Pakistan, in one of the most fertile regions on earth. It is the second largest city in Pakistan, with a population of over five million. Lahore is a banking and commercial city that provides markets for the agricultural products of the surrounding area. It is also home to 20 per cent of Pakistan’s industrial production.

For Pakistanis, however, it is Lahore’s romance and rich cultural heritage that causes them to refer to the city as “The Heart of Pakistan”. Lahoris are known for their poetry, their hospitality and their fantastic food. The tragic tale of the slave girl Anarkali, who was entombed alive because of her forbidden love for a prince, is remembered today in Lahore’s famous Anarkali Bazaar. It was in Lahore that Rudyard Kipling set his classic tale Kim. It was also in the streets of Lahore that Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims butchered one another during the horror of partition of India and Pakistan in 1947.

In the very heart of Lahore is the Old City, which is an ancient walled citadel built before the 16th century. Today it is populated by the real Lahoris, a culturally distinct subgroup who speak their own dialect of Punjabi. Many of these families can trace their ancestry back beyond Mughal days when the emperor Aurangzeb ruled (Emperor 1658–1707). They are a closed community and totally unreached with the gospel.

Lahore’s Christian roots go back over 100 years. In the early 20th century John “Praying” Hyde spent years in Lahore and surrounding towns interceding for revival. An incredible move of God among low-caste Hindus resulted, and today’s Pakistani Church is largely the fruit of that revival. However, the Church remains small and segregated from the majority Muslim population.

Lahore is also the capital city of the largest province of Pakistan, the Punjab. The Punjabis dominate much of the political and military life of Pakistan. As the capital of the Punjab Lahore plays an important role, influencing the life and development of the entire nation. It is also the gateway to the Punjab of India. Road, rail and air routes through Lahore link the two nations together. Pray that the city will play a significant role in a process of reconciliation between two nations who for decades have been sworn enemies. Historically, economically, politically and religiously Lahore is important for the future of Pakistan.

PRAYER REQUESTS

• Pray that the kingdom of God will penetrate every aspect of society in Lahore (Matt 13:31–33).
• There are still very few people from the majority Muslim community who have come to faith. Pray for a spiritual awakening to come not just among low-caste Hindus but to the Muslim majority as well (2 Pet 3:9). 
• Pray that the Christians in Lahore will be strengthened in faith and in love despite the many pressures and persecutions that threaten them (2 Thess 1:4). 
• Ask God to raise up many laborers with the ability and perseverance to be salt and light to the Muslims of Lahore.