Started his civil service career in 1973 and worked in various capacities in Bureau of Emigration, Government of Pakistan, He was posted as in charge of FIA/Interpol and Deputy Director Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in 1987 for dealing with white collar crimes, their monitoring worldwide and interaction with worldwide police establishments and intelligence agencies. In 1989 Rehman Malik was also posted as Deputy Secretary in Ministry of Interior. He also held the post of Chairman/Secretary security installations of entire Pakistan for one year. He was later posted as Director Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Headquarters and Principal Staff Officer to the DG/ Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in 1989. He was also nominated as chief Coordinator in Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) with the Prime Minister office. In this capacity, he dealt with the inquiries, criminal cases under Official Secret Act, drugs and Narcotics laws etc and made number of lectures and interviews abroad.

He led represented Pakistan in SAARC Meeting of Experts on the implementation of the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism, Colombo, Sri Lanka in 1990. In 1992, He was also posted as Director/Head of FIA Frontier province/FATA and Northern Areas in 1992 where he remained posted for one year. While posted as Head of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Frontier province, he busted the groups involved in counterfeiting of Pakistani rupee 1000 currency notes and US dollar (approximate).

During this period, he underwent NIPA course and elected as chairman of his group. In 1993, he was posted as Director Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Immigration and Anti-Smuggling at Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Headquarters and earned international recognitions for curbing illegal immigration from Pakistan to Europe and USA. He has the distinction of computerizing the immigration data of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

In 1995, he was elevated to the post of Additional Director General of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), where he was responsible for administration and monitoring of the working of Immigration and Anti Smuggling and White Collar crimes besides being responsible for Anti-Terrorism operations in Pakistan. He also officiated as Director General, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), before the Government of Shaheed Mohtrama Benazir Bhutto was over thrown undemocratically in 1996.

He arrested a number of Afro-Arab militants from Pakistan including Abdul Rehman Khaddar etc., and took legal action. Operations under his command were conducted which resulted in the arrest of Yousaf Ramzi and other terrorists like Khalid Sheikh, Zahid Al-Sheikh and Aymen Zawahari were identified the nexus of Afro-Arab terrorists with Al-Qaeda was first identified by him. In recognition of his professional and fearless services and investigation of cases of international ramifications, the Government of Pakistan awarded and decorated him with Sitara-e-Shujaat (Gallantry) in 1995.

He obtained fellowship in the field of International Migration and its fall out from University of Philippines in 1984-85 under ILO-UNO Programme.

Highlighting of his International Professional performance

Rehman Malik has been appearing in various famous TV shows and independent programmes as an expert on war on terror after 9/11, and assumed advisory role for various institutions on the security matters. A post 9/11 Hollywood film 'Path to 9/11' based on his investigative work was televised both in USA and by BBC, UK. A book, 'The New Jackals' written by Mr. Simon Reeve, on anti-terrorism operations and interrogation stories features his contribution to the field of anti-terrorism.

His anti- money laundering operations are reported in various international publications. His investigative work has become leading models in LEAs institutions. He investigated a number of money laundering cases against senior bureaucrats and politicians. BBC produce a documentary namely Park Lane to Illford based on his investigation report of corruption in Pakistan. 'Panorama', a BBC production, was based on his expertise. He was President of DM Digital World TV Limited, with which he further gained rich experience in media and telecommunication. He resigned from DM Digital as principle when he took the portfolio of Minister of Interior.

Whilst in UK from 1998 to 2007, he ran a number of companies in the fields of security, telecommunication, food and oil. He established and successfully ran a security consultancy firm in the UK, to provide consultancy services in the field of security, anti-terrorism, aviation security, bank frauds, money laundering and assets tracing worldwide, which attained international recognition. He provided consultancy to many multinational companies, banks and financial institutions for due diligence and security related matters, advising them on criminal matters, which has further enhanced his experience in the field of security at the international level.

Politics

He is a senior member of the Central Executive Committee of PPP and had worked tirelessly with Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and assisting her as political advisor besides accompanying her in most political meetings both abroad and at home. He was the primary architect of Charter of Democracy and part of political negotiation with General Perveez Musharraf and other political parties including Nawaz Sharif.

In 28 March, 2008, he was appointed Adviser/Minister to the Prime Minister for Interior to oversee the functions of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Immigration and Passports, NADRA, Pakistan Rangers (Border Forces), Frontier Constabulary, Frontier Corps, Islamabad Police, Civil Defense, NARA, Institution for Jail Officers Training, National Police Bureau, National Police Academy, Pakistan Coast Guards, National Crisis Management Cell and other civil armed forces. Subsequently in 2009, He was elected Senator unopposed from Sindh Province and assumes the officer of Minister of Interior.

He has been recently assumed as the chairman of SAARC Interior / Home Minister’s Summit 2010.

He is visiting speaker for NDU Pakistan.