They are also often involved in major internal and external security operations with the regular Pakistani military and provide assistance to municipal and provincial police forces to maintain law and order against crime, terrorism and unrest.

Aside from the primary objective of guarding the border with India, the Rangers are also responsible for maintaining internal security in Pakistan and serve as a major law enforcement organization in the country.

Despite this, they do not possess the power to make arrests like the regular police with the exception of when the state temporarily sanctions them with such an authority in times of extreme crisis.

[citation needed] The Rangers are also tasked with securing important monuments and guarding national assets in all major cities, including Islamabad.

In late 1989, due to growing riots and the worsening situation of law and order in the province of Sindh, a new force was raised for a strategic anti-dacoit operation.

The conflict started when, after 18 months of tensions between government authorities and Islamist militants, Taliban terrorists attacked the Punjab Rangers guarding the nearby Ministry of Environment building and set it ablaze.

Immediately following this, they proceeded to attack a nearby Pakistani healthcare centre, kidnapping a number of Chinese nurses, and subsequently locked themselves inside the Red Mosque with hostages.

[7] Later that year, the Government of Pakistan deployed the Punjab Rangers to secure the outskirts of Islamabad when the Taliban had taken over the Buner, Lower Dir, Swat and Shangla districts.

[5] SPUs are tasked with protection and security for UN officials, providing operational and backup support, responding to threats to public order, and assist various humanitarian agencies.

Dacoits had been using Indus River Delta as their base for many years to carry out criminal activities across parts of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan.

As a result of active involvement of Punjab Rangers, the normalcy was restored in the strategic area Ranjanpur District, which connects three provinces of Pakistan.

Personnel joining as sepoys can reach a maximum rank of honorary DSR (Deputy Superintendent Rangers), which would be equivalent to an Army captain.