The Archbishop of Canterbury met church leaders in Pakistan today as he began a visit that comes amid concerns about the plight of the country's beleaguered Christian minority.
Justin Welby, the leader of the world's Anglicans, will meet Muslim leaders and senior government officials during his stay, part of a week-long tour that will also take in India and Bangladesh.
Christians are a small minority in Pakistan, where 97 per cent of the 180 million population are Muslims, and most are poor and working in menial jobs.
They have suffered attacks and riots in recent years, most notoriously last September when a double suicide attack at a church in the northwestern city of Peshawar killed 82 people.
Christians are also frequently on the receiving end of allegations under Pakistan's strict blasphemy laws, which can carry the death penalty.
Welby met Bishop Samuel Azariah, Moderator of the Church of Pakistan, in the eastern town of Raiwind today, a spokesman said.
Raheel Sharoon, development officer of the diocese of Raiwind, said the archbishop would also meet Punjab provincial governor Muhammad Sarwar.
"He will meet Muslim and Christian leaders tomorrow and address gatherings about interfaith harmony," Sharoon said.
