One of the most important institutions in any country, the police force plays a vital role in maintaining law and order and investigating crime. The police force in Pakistan is divided into various ranks, each with its own set of responsibilities.
Graana.com has prepared a detailed guide on the police ranks in Pakistan below, along with their roles, responsibilities, and basic pay scales.
The most significant police departments in Pakistan are as follows:
| Department | Province |
| Islamabad Capital Police | Islamabad Capital Territory |
| Punjab Police | Punjab |
| Sindh Police | Sindh |
| Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| Balochistan Police | Balochistan |
The table below shows the ranks (along with the grades) of Pakistan’s police force.
| Rank (From Lowest to Highest) | Grade (From Lowest to Highest) |
| Constable | BS 05 |
| Head Constable | BS 07 |
| Assistant Sub Inspector | BS 09 |
| Sub Inspector | BS 14 |
| Police Inspector | BS 16 |
| Additional Superintendent of Police | BS 17 |
| Superintendent Of Police | BS 18 |
| Senior Superintendent of Police/Assistant Inspector General | BS 19 |
| Deputy Inspector General | BS 20 |
| Additional Inspector General | BS 21 |
| Inspector General of Police | BS 22
|
Pakistan’s provinces are divided into regions, which are then further broken down into districts.
Each district has a District Police Officer (DPO), who effectively serves as the local police chief. The City Police Officer (CPO) or Regional Police Officer (RPO) reports to the Provincial Police Officer (PPO), who receives direct reports from the DPO.
DPO, RPO, CPO, and PPO are posts in Pakistan, not police ranks, much like the Station House Officer (SHO). DPO offices are present in every province.
| Rank | Abbreviation |
| Inspector General | IG |
| Additional Inspector General | AIG |
| Deputy Inspector General | DIG |
| Assistant Inspector General/Senior Superintendent | SSP |
| Superintendent of Police | SP |
| Assistant Superintendent/Deputy Superintendent | ASP/DSP |
As mentioned above, every district in Pakistan has two or more sub-divisions. The Deputy Superintendent of Police is in charge of a subdivision. Because the BPS 17 civil service grade is required for this position, ASPs and DSPs are gazetted officers.
Pakistani police officers must possess a bachelor’s degree (14 years of formal education) from an accredited university in Pakistan in order to hold this position.
To be considered for the role, the applicant must be between the ages of 21 and 28. The basic salaries for ASP and DSP police officers range from Rs. 30,370 to Rs 76,370.
The Superintendent of Police oversees a non-field position at police headquarters. This position’s base pay grade is BPS 18. The SP receives a salary in the range of Rs. 38,350 to Rs. 95,750.
The Senior Superintendent of Police is either the DPO or has a non-field job at police headquarters. The civil service grade for the position of SSP is BPS 19, and the salary typically starts from Rs. 59,210 and goes up to Rs. 120,210.
The Deputy Inspector General may be the RPO, CPO, or an official in control of a branch, division, or wing that is not in the field. DIG may be referred to as a City Police Officer or a Regional Police Officer.
The starting salary for a DIG position in the Pakistani police force is BPS 20. The pay ranges from Rs. 59,210 to Rs. 120,210.
The Additional Inspector General is in charge of a region or a capital. A non-field branch, division, or wing can be led by someone of this rank. Their civil service grade is BPS 21, and the pay ranges from Rs. 76,720 to Rs. 146,720.
The top position in the Police Department is Inspector General. A PPO in charge of the administrative and provincial police forces is known as an IGP. This job is a three-star appointment with a BPS 21 or 22 civil service grade.
The pay ranges from Rs. 82,380 to Rs. 164,560. The provinces of Punjab, KPK, Sindh, and Balochistan each have their own police forces.
The police forces of Gilgit Baltistan (GB), Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) serve in their respective regions.
Each police division has an Inspector-General who is chosen among the most senior members of the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP), which is a part of the Central Superior Services of Pakistan.
A district is regarded as the fundamental unit of territory in Pakistan. Subdivisions within each district are further subdivided into police stations. Furthermore, specific beats are created throughout each police station.
Patrolling, surveillance and information collection are among the responsibilities given to the less senior officers, such as Constables, Head Constables, and Assistant Sub-Inspectors.
SHO stands for Station House Officer, the officer in charge of a police station. They’re responsible for its overall operations, including supervision and investigations. Police stations may have smaller units called chowkis or booths for local coverage, but major crimes are typically handled by the main station. The Sub-Inspector of Police typically acts as the SHO in smaller districts and rural regions. The Inspector of Police is designated as the SHO in larger, more densely inhabited districts.
It is also important to note that SHO is a post, not a rank. That means, in certain cases, officials with lower police ranks in Pakistan may also serve at higher posts.
| Rank | Abbreviation |
| Inspector | IP |
| Sub-Inspector | SI |
| Assistant Sub-Inspector | ASI |
| Head Constable | HC |
| Constable | PC |
A constable is a member of the subordinate personnel at a police station. The required age range for this position is 18 to 26 years old. Depending on the province, the grade for constables runs from BPS 5 to BPS 7. The pay range is Rs. 10,260–25,260. The minimum requirement is a matriculation certificate.
The position of a constable is beneath that of a head constable. The civil service grade for head constables in Pakistan runs from BPS 7 to BPS 9. The base pay ranges from Rs. 10,990 to Rs. 29,290.
The Assistant Sub-Inspector is positioned above the constable and head constable in the police station. The civil service grade for this police officer ranges from BPS 9 to BPS 11, and the salary ranges from Rs. 11,770 to Rs. 33,670.
A Sub-Inspector may manage a small police station in a suburban or rural area, or serve as a member of the police staff in a larger town or metropolis. For this position, the civil service grade is BPS 14 and the pay ranges from Rs. 15,180 to Rs. 50,280.
Police inspectors, also known as Station House Officers (SHOs), oversee police stations’ chiefs. The civil service grade for this post is BPS 16. The monthly salary of a police inspector ranges from Rs. 18,910 to Rs. 64,510.
The police uniform in Pakistan is designed to reflect authority, professionalism, and functionality. It typically comes in two primary colors: dark blue for urban police and khaki for rural police. The uniform includes a shirt, trousers, and appropriate footwear, with rank badges, name tags, and department insignia prominently displayed.
Specialized units such as the Elite Force and Traffic Police have variations to their uniforms to suit their specific operational needs. Accessories like belts, holsters, radios, and high-visibility gear are standard, with additional gear like bulletproof vests used when necessary. The uniforms also adapt to seasonal changes and cultural norms, ensuring both practicality and respect for tradition.
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