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1History
2List of forces

3Ranks
4See also

5References
6External links

Civil Armed Forces


The Civil Armed Forces (CAF) are a group of nine paramilitary, uniformed organisations, separate and
Civil Armed Forces
distinct from the regular "military" Pakistan Armed Forces. They are responsible for maintaining internal
security, helping law enforcement agencies, border control, counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism, riot
control, and anti-smuggling under the Ministry of Interior. They frequently operate alongside the Pakistani
military in response to natural disasters. They come under the direct command of the Ministry of Defence and
the Pakistani military during wartime.

History
Some CAF units were originally raised in the colonial era on the frontiers of the empire, and played a key role in
the consolidation of control by building a link between the state and communities in strategically sensitive
frontier areas through recruitment to government service. In many areas paramilitary units continue to play
exactly the same historical role decades after independence.

The CAF are currently undergoing significant expansion of some (57) additional 'wings' approved for raising in
the 2015–16 to deal with the challenging internal and border security environment and to provide security for Service
Punjab Rangers
the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), co-ordinated by a new 2-star command raised in September branches

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2016, the Special Security Division.[5] Sindh Rangers


Frontier Corps
The CAF are paid for from the budget of the Ministry of Interior which also provides administrative support.
Khyber
However they are (with the exception of the Frontier Constabulary) commanded by officers on secondment
from the Pakistan Army. They function under the operational control of army corps headquarters, not just in Pakhtunkhwa
war time but whenever Article 245 of the Pakistani Constitution is invoked to provide 'military aid to civil (North)
power', for example in Karachi since 2015,[6] and in Punjab since February 2017.[7][8] Frontier Corps
Khyber
List of forces Pakhtunkhwa
(South)
There are a total of nine forces, although some of them share names.[9] They can also have their command Frontier Corps
transferred to the Ministry of Defence, and effectively combined to form a reserve force for the Pakistani Balochistan
military during times of war. (North)
Frontier Corps
Punjab Rangers
Balochistan
Headquartered in Lahore. (South)
Divided into five forces, each composed of several battalion-sized "wings" of approximately 800 men Frontier
each.
Constabulary
This force has a border security role on the Punjab provincial external border with India. It also performs
internal security duties (counter-insurgency, counter-gang, public order, etc.) under the operational Pakistan Coast
control of Pakistan Army corps commanders.[10] Guards
Gilgit-Baltistan
Sindh Rangers
Scouts
Headquartered in Karachi. Headquarters Ministry of Interior,
Divided into seven forces, each composed of several battalion-sized "wings" of approximately 800 men Islamabad
each.
This force has a border security role on the Sindh provincial external border with India. It also performs Leadership
internal security duties (counter-insurgency, counter-gang, public order, etc.) under the operational Commander- President Arif
control of Pakistan Army corps commanders.[10] in-Chief Alvi

Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (North) Prime Shehbaz Sharif


Minister
Formed in 2017 by the splitting of Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Minister of Khawaja Asif
Headquartered in Peshawar.
Defence
Composed of eleven infantry and one armoured regiments, each formed from several battalion-sized
"wings". Defence Hamood Uz
Under the command of the Army's XI Corps, the force has been in the forefront of counter-insurgency Secretary Zaman
operations against the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and foreign militants since 2003. Chairman General Sahir
Joint Chiefs Shamshad Mirza
Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (South)

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Formed in 2017 by the splitting of Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. of Staff


Headquartered in Dera Ismail Khan. Personnel
Composed of ten infantry regiments, each formed from several battalion-sized "wings". Military age 16–23[1]
Under the command of the XI Corps, the force has been in the forefront of counter-insurgency
operations against the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and foreign militants since 2003. Active
150,000 in
personnel
Rangers and
Frontier Corps Balochistan (North)
Frontier Corps;[2]
Formed in 2017 by the splitting of Frontier Corps Balochistan.
33,000 in Frontier
Headquartered in Quetta.
Constabulary (no
Composed of ten infantry regiments, each formed from several battalion-sized "wings". source yet).
Under the command of the XII Corps, the force has been in the forefront of counter-insurgency
4 battalions in
operations against the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and Baloch separatists.
Pakistan Coast
Frontier Corps Balochistan (South) Guards;[3]

Formed in 2017 by the splitting of Frontier Corps Balochistan. Expenditures


Headquartered in Turbat. Budget Rs. 93,282,260,000[4]
Composed of ten infantry regiments, each formed from several battalion-sized "wings".
Industry
Under the command of the XII Corps, the force has been in the forefront of counter-insurgency
operations against Baloch separatists. Domestic List
suppliers
Frontier Constabulary Air Weapons
Complex
Formed in 1915.
Heavy Industries
Headquartered in Peshawar Cantonment.
Taxila
This is a gendarmerie that operates in the border districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which were formerly
known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas; unlike the Frontier Corps it is commanded by officers Global Industrial
from the Police Service of Pakistan. Defence
Solutions
Pakistan Coast Guards
Defence Science
Formed in 1973. and Technology
Headquartered in Karachi. Organization
The force should not be confused with the Maritime Security Agency, which is a coast guard in the Karachi Shipyard
Pakistan Navy. This force is charged with protecting the coastal areas of Balochistan and Sindh
and Engineering
Province. It is largely a shore-based force with a particular focus on combatting smuggling. It is
commanded by a one-star rank brigadier from the Pakistan Army. Works
Kahuta Research
Gilgit Baltistan Scouts Laboratories
Formed in 2003 as a replacement CAF after the previously paramilitary Northern Light Infantry was NESCOM
converted into a regular infantry regiments of the Pakistan Army in recognition of their performance and

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heavy losses during the Kargil War. National Defence


Headquartered in Gilgit. Complex
Composed of six battalion-sized "wings". Pakistan
Under the command of the Army's Force Command Northern Areas, the force has been involved in Aeronautical
providing security for infrastructure projects in the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor. Complex

50 Aviation Squadron is the nucleus of an air wing designed to provide additional air support to CAFs.[11] Pakistan
Ordnance
Factories
Ranks
Metallurgical
Laboratory
Integrated
Dynamics

Related articles
History Military history of
Pakistan
Wars Involving
Pakistan
Ranks Army ranks and
insignia
Naval ranks and
insignia
Air Force ranks and
insignia

Rank group General/flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet

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Colonel Masud, Commandant of the


Frontier Corps' Pishin Scouts (right),
presents U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administrator Karen P. Tandy (left)
with his unit ballcap in Chaman,
Balochistan, Pakistan, September
2007

Pakistan
Rangers Direct
Senior Deputy Entry
Director Sub
superintendent Superintendent superintendent
general Inspector inspector
of the Rangers of the Rangers of the Rangers
‫ڈائریکٹر‬ ‫انسپکٹر‬ ‫ڈائریکٹ‬
‫سینئر‬ ‫سپرنٹنڈنٹ‬ ‫ڈپٹی‬
‫جنرل‬ ‫انٹری سب‬
‫سپرنٹنڈنٹ۔‬ ‫سپرنٹنڈنٹ۔‬
‫انسپکٹر۔‬

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Pakistan
Frontier
Constabulary Assistant
Deputy district
Commandant commandant District officer officer
‫کمانڈنٹ‬ ‫ڈپٹی‬ ‫ضلعی افسر۔‬ ‫اسسٹنٹ‬
‫کمانڈنٹ۔‬ ‫ڈسٹرکٹ‬
‫آفیسر۔‬

Gilgit−Baltistan
Scouts
Second
Lieutenant
Brigadier Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant lieutenant
colonel
‫بریگیڈیئر‬ ‫کرنل‬ ‫میجر‬ ‫کیپٹن‬ ‫لیفٹنینٹ‬ ‫سیکنڈ‬
‫لیفٹیننٹ کرنل‬
‫لیفٹیننٹ‬

Pakistan
Coast Guards
Major Second
general Brigadier Lieutenant
Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant lieutenant
colonel
‫میجر‬ ‫بریگیڈیئر‬ ‫کرنل‬ ‫میجر‬ ‫کیپٹن‬ ‫لیفٹنینٹ‬ ‫سیکنڈ‬
‫لیفٹیننٹ کرنل‬
‫جنرل‬ ‫لیفٹیننٹ‬
Rank group General/flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet

Non commissioned
Rank group Junior commissioned officers Enlisted
officer

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No insignia

Pakistan Rangers

Lance Sepoy
Senior
Inspector Sub inspector Havildar Naik Naik ‫سپاہی۔‬
inspector
‫انسپکٹر‬ ‫سب انسپکٹر۔‬ ‫حوالدار۔‬ ‫نائیک۔‬ ‫لانس‬
‫سینئر انسپکٹر۔‬
‫نائیک۔‬
No insignia
Assistant sub Constable
Pakistan
Inspector
Sub inspector Head Constable ‫کانسٹیبل‬
Frontier Constabulary inspector
‫انسپکٹر‬ ‫اسسٹنٹ سب‬ ‫ہیڈ کانسٹیبل۔‬
‫سب انسپکٹر۔‬
‫انسپکٹر۔‬

No insignia

Gilgit−Baltistan Lance Sepoy


Scouts
Subedar-
Subedar Naib Subedar Havildar Naik Naik ‫سپاہی۔‬
Major
‫صوبیدار‬ ‫نائب صوبیدار‬ ‫حوالدار۔‬ ‫نائیک۔‬ ‫لانس‬
‫صوبیدار میجر‬
‫نائیک۔‬

No insignia
Pakistan Coast
Guards
Lance
Subedar- Naik
Subedar Naib Subedar Havildar Naik Sepoy
Major
‫صوبیدار‬ ‫نائب صوبیدار‬ ‫حوالدار۔‬ ‫نائیک۔‬ ‫لانس‬ ‫سپاہی۔‬
‫صوبیدار میجر‬
‫نائیک۔‬
Non commissioned
Rank group Junior commissioned officers Enlisted
officer

See also
Law enforcement in Pakistan

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Pakistan Armed Forces


National Guard (Pakistan)
Pakistan Levies

References
1. "South Asia :: Pakistan — The World Factbook" (https://www.cia.gov/ 6. "COAS directs Karachi Corps to step up rescue work" (https://www.th
the-world-factbook/countries/pakistan/). un.org. CIA. 16 November enews.com.pk/print/705969-coas-directs-karachi-corps-to-step-up-re
2021. scue-work). www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
2. "Military and security service personnel strengths" (https://www.cia.g 7. "Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan: Between the Kashmir conflict and China"
ov/the-world-factbook/field/military-and-security-service-personnel-str (https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/pakistan-s-gilgit-baltistan-betwee
engths). CIA World Factbook. Retrieved 10 December 2022. n-the-kashmir-conflict-and-china-40053). Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan:
3. "Pakistan Coast Guards (click on Menu)" (https://www.pakistancoast Between the Kashmir conflict and China. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
guards.gov.pk/). Pakistan Coast Guards. Retrieved 10 December 8. "No link with recent GB, upcoming AJK polls: ECP" (https://www.then
2022. ews.com.pk/print/746969-no-link-with-recent-gb-upcoming-ajk-polls-e
4. "Federal Budget 2020–2021: Details of demands for grants and cp). www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
appropriations" (https://na.gov.pk/uploads/1591967197_724.pdf) 9. "20 Months Achievements" (https://www.nadra.gov.pk/20_Months_ac
(PDF). National Assembly of Pakistan. p. 2530. Retrieved hievements_Brochure.pdf) (PDF). National Database and
19 December 2022. Registration Authority. p. 3. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
5. Uploader (15 August 2016). "NAP decision: 29 new wings of civil 10. "Pakistan Rangers (Sindh)" (https://web.archive.org/web/201008242
armed forces to be raised" (https://www.app.com.pk/nap-decision-29- 03734/http://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent.asp
new-wings-of-civil-armed-forces-to-be-raised/). Archived (https://web. x?pId=141). Archived from the original (http://www.pakistanarmy.gov.
archive.org/web/20170227062724/https://www.app.com.pk/nap-decis pk/AWPReview/TextContent.aspx?pId=141) on 24 August 2010.
ion-29-new-wings-of-civil-armed-forces-to-be-raised/) from the Retrieved 27 January 2010.
original on 27 February 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017. 11. "20 Months Achievements" (https://www.nadra.gov.pk/20_Months_ac
hievements_Brochure.pdf) (PDF). National Database and
Registration Authority. p. 12-14. Retrieved 27 December 2022.

External links
CIA World Factbook 2005 (https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/pakistan/)

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