Church Expands Presence in Pakistan with New Worship Spaces in Karachi and Faisalabad

A ground-breaking ceremony for a new church in Baldia Town, Karachi, and the inauguration of a completed church in Faisalabad this past week marked two parallel milestones in the Church’s ongoing expansion across Pakistan.

On May 6, 2026, Archbishop Benny Mario Travas of Karachi performed the formal ground-breaking ceremony for a new church building for St. Luke’s Parish in Baldia Town, Karachi.

The project was initiated to accommodate a community that has grown from 100 families to more than 500. The new church will measure 85 feet in length and 40 feet in width.

The construction is a significant upgrade from the original chapel built 60 years ago. At that time, the area was sparsely populated, but it has since transformed into one of Karachi’s busiest urban hubs.

During the ceremony, Archbishop Benny Mario Travas addressed more than 100 residents, emphasizing that regardless of whether a church is small or large, the congregation must lead a spiritual and authentic Christian life.

The construction is expected to be completed within five months, with a target opening in October.

The parish will repurpose the old 60-year-old chapel building into a nursery school for children. The facility will also host Sunday school classes, Bible study sessions, and community awareness programs.

Malik Masih, a retired teacher in his 70s, participated in the ground-breaking ceremony alongside the clergy. He noted that a larger church had long been the dream of the community and expressed satisfaction that this legacy is being secured for the next generation. He advised the youth to remain faithful to God and never lose hope.

Earlier, on May 5, 2026, Bishop Indrias Rehmat of Faisalabad blessed and inaugurated the new St. Matthew the Apostle Church in St. Paul’s Parish, Faisalabad. The church is situated in an underprivileged settlement, locally known as a Katchi Abadi, and was built to replace a single room that previously served as the community’s only prayer space.

The new church measures 80 feet in length and 30 feet in width. Construction on the project began in September 2025. Bishop Indrias Rehmat described the new building as a sign of flourishing faith and a sacred house of God where the faithful can receive blessings.

Parish priest Fr. Zafar Iqbal added that the new church also represents a responsibility for the community to protect and maintain the “House of God” while passing on the faith to the next generation.

Both events highlight how the Church in Pakistan is expanding its infrastructure to meet the spiritual and educational needs of its members. These projects serve as a gift to local communities, ensuring that future generations have adequate space for both worship and foundational education.