27/07/2026
Historic Milestone for the Church of Pakistan – The Declaration of the Episcopal Area of Balochistan
The 26th of July 2026 will be remembered as a historic day in the life of the Church of Pakistan. Under the leadership of The Most Reverend Dr Azad Marshall, Archbishop and Moderator of the Church of Pakistan, a delegation travelled from Lahore to Quetta for the formal declaration of Balochistan as an Episcopal Area of the Church of Pakistan.
The delegation included Bishop Kaleem John (Deputy Moderator and Bishop of Hyderabad), Bishop Frederick John (Bishop of Karachi), Bishop Aleem Anwar (Bishop of Faisalabad), Bishop Alwin Samuel (Bishop of Sialkot), and Bishop Shahzad Gill (Coadjutor Bishop of Raiwind). They were joined by Mr Zaheer Abbas, Coordinator of the Synod of the Church of Pakistan; Mr Khurram Iqbal, Legal Advisor to the Synod; Mr Waqas Maqbul Khan; Mr Shazar Shaukat; Mrs Michelle Samuel; together with representatives of the Executive Committee of the Diocese of Karachi.
The day began with a Holy Communion Service at St Mary's Church, Quetta Cantonment, attended by clergy, bishops, pastors, denominational leaders, church elders and Christian stakeholders from across Balochistan. Representatives from different denominations gathered together in a remarkable demonstration of Christian unity and wholeheartedly welcomed the establishment of the Episcopal Area. Many shared that this was the fulfilment of prayers offered not only by them but also by previous generations of believers who had faithfully prayed for many years that the Church in Balochistan would one day receive focused episcopal leadership.
In his sermon from 1 Corinthians 3, Archbishop Azad Marshall reminded the congregation that while one plants and another waters, it is God who gives the growth. He also reflected on the rich Christian heritage of the Church, recalling the ancient tradition of St Thomas the Apostle's arrival in Taxila, and reminded the congregation that generations of faithful missionaries and local believers left the comfort of their homes to dedicate their lives to the service of Christ in the difficult land of Balochistan. He spoke of those who built churches, schools and hospitals, preached the Gospel, and faithfully served communities despite immense hardship.
The Quetta Mission Hospital, established in 1886 became one of the most renowned medical mission hospitals, providing treatment to thousands of patients from across Balochistan. Such was its reputation that tribal chiefs, kings, royal families from neighboring countries sought treatment and medical counsel at Quetta mission hosptial
The Archbishop also acknowledged the faithful ministry of many servants who followed in this legacy, including Rev. Nathaniel, who devoted approximately fifty years to ministry in Balochistan, Pastor Rumal Shah, and many other clergy, catechists, evangelists and lay leaders whose faithful witness laid the foundation upon which today's Church continues to stand. The declaration of the Episcopal Area is therefore not the achievement of any one individual or generation, but the fruit of decades of sacrificial ministry and the gracious work of God through His people.
Special appreciation is due to everyone in Quetta whose dedication, planning and hospitality made this historic occasion possible, especially SSP Irfan and Mrs Anita Irfan, The Rev. Fayyaz Younis, The Rev. Simon Bashir, Mr Arthur Nathaniel, together with the many volunteers, church families and members of the local congregations who welcomed the delegation with outstanding Christian love and fellowship.
As we celebrate this historic milestone, we continue to pray for the future of the Church in Balochistan. The establishment of the Episcopal Area is far more than an administrative development; it creates the opportunity to strengthen pastoral care throughout the province, identify and equip home-grown pastors, establish new congregations in underserved communities, and provide sustained episcopal leadership focused entirely on the unique needs of the Christians of Balochistan. May God continue to bless this new Episcopal Area, granting wisdom, humility and courage to its leaders, and may the Gospel of Jesus Christ continue to flourish throughout the whole province.
