LAHORE: The Archbishop of Canterbury met church leaders in Pakistan Tuesday as he began a visit that comes as part of a week-long tour that will also take in India and Bangladesh.

Justin Welby, the leader of the world's Anglicans, will meet Muslim leaders and senior government officials during his stay.

Welby met Bishop Samuel Azariah, Moderator of the Church of Pakistan, in the eastern town of Raiwind on Tuesday, 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.

Christians are a small minority in Pakistan, where 97 per cent of the 180 million population are Muslims.