# Security Services in Pakistan Canonical page: https://closeprotectionhire.com/countries/pakistan/ Security services in Pakistan. Close protection, risk assessments, and logistics support for Karachi and Islamabad from vetted operators with deep Pakistan experience. ## Regulations - **Licensing**: Private security companies are licensed by each province and, in the capital, by the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration: Punjab under the Punjab Private Security Companies (Regulation and Control) Ordinance 2002, Sindh by its Home Department under the Private Security Agencies (Regulation and Control) Ordinance, and Islamabad under the Private Security Companies Ordinance 2001. A licence in one province does not cover another. - **Firearms**: The Pakistan Arms Ordinance 1965 requires a licence to possess or go armed with arms (sections 8 and 9). Provincial governments license non-prohibited weapons and the Federal Government prohibited ones (section 11-A). The Ordinance applies to any person and has no separate rule for foreign nationals. - **Foreign operators**: None of these laws sets out a separate route for a foreign security company. International clients normally engage a Pakistani company licensed in the province where the work takes place. Take local legal advice before a foreign team carries out protective duties. Sources, checked 2026-10-06: - [Pakistan Arms Ordinance 1965 (Punjab Police copy)](https://punjabpolice.gov.pk/system/files/pakistan-arms-ordinance-1965.pdf) - [Punjab Private Security Companies (Regulation and Control) Ordinance 2002, text](https://pakistanlawyer.com/punjab-private-security-companies-regulation-and-control-ordinance-2002/) - [ICT Administration, private security company licences](https://ictadministration.gov.pk/?p=79) - [The News, Sindh Home Department cancels licences of 43 private security companies (4 March 2026)](https://www.thenews.pk/print/1402608-home-dept-cancels-licences-of-43-private-security-companies) ## Cities covered - **Karachi**: Pakistan's commercial capital. Multiple active terrorist organisations (TTP, ISKP, BLA). Critical kidnapping threat. No safe public transport. Recent airport and consulate attacks on record. Pakistan is a country of 240 million people and a nuclear-armed state with a complex and shifting internal security environment. Karachi is the commercial capital and the economic engine. Islamabad is the political capital. Both carry critical-level risk ratings. FCDO advises against all travel to KPK province (excluding Islamabad), FATA, Balochistan (excluding Quetta for some nationalities), and border areas. The risk picture in Pakistan's major cities is serious and requires specialist assessment. ## The terrorism picture Pakistan faces threat from multiple organised terrorist groups. TTP is the primary domestic jihadist group. ISKP is the Pakistani and regional affiliate of IS. BLA targets Chinese nationals and infrastructure (linked to CPEC projects) but has conducted broader attacks. MQM and other political factions have historically contributed to violence in Karachi. FCDO cites specific incidents including the October 2024 Karachi Airport attack, the Chinese consulate attack, and multiple Balochistan attacks as evidence of ongoing capability. The frequency and diversity of incidents are high by any regional standard. ## Operating in Pakistan Operations in Pakistan require advance planning at a level above most other markets. NOC documentation, provincial authority engagement, local partner relationships, and movement security planning need to begin well ahead of travel. Pakistani security firms with government relationships are the operational route for international clients. Our Pakistan operators have documented experience in Karachi and Islamabad. They understand the regulatory requirements, the ground situation, and the practical logistics. Pakistan is not a market where improvised arrangements are acceptable. ## The kidnapping threat FCDO rates kidnapping risk in Pakistan as critical. Western nationals, businesspeople with visible profiles, and anyone associated with Chinese infrastructure projects carry elevated kidnapping profiles. This is not a low-frequency risk: Pakistan is one of a small number of markets in our network where kidnap-specific security planning is a standard recommendation rather than an optional element. Our vetted operators provide [close protection and executive protection](/services/executive-protection/) and [security driver services](/services/security-drivers/) across Pakistan. For a detailed local assessment, see our [Karachi city briefing](/cities/karachi/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the current terrorism situation in Karachi? Karachi faces threats from multiple organisations including TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan), ISKP (Islamic State Khorasan Province), and BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army). Recent attacks include the Karachi Airport perimeter attack (October 2024) and the Chinese Consulate attack. The threat is active and not static. A current assessment reflects latest intelligence. ### Is Islamabad safer than Karachi? Islamabad has a different risk profile. As the capital, it has greater security force concentration and has experienced historically lower crime than Karachi. However, it faces its own terrorism threats and the compound security situation applies nationally. Islamabad is not low-risk. It requires the same professional management as Karachi, with different threat weighting. ### What NOC requirements affect security operations in Pakistan? No Objection Certificates from provincial and sometimes federal authorities are often required for foreign nationals and foreign security companies to operate. Requirements and enforcement vary by province, activity type, and the nationalities involved. This is a logistical factor that must be factored into advance planning timelines.