Shipping from China to Pakistan — City Guides, Customs and Transit Times
China → Pakistan · clearance by Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue)
Pakistan is served through Karachi (KICT/QICT), Port Qasim, Gwadar, and it is served through KHI air / Karachi sea. That combination is what actually sets your delivery date on this lane — the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
Clearance itself is handled by Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue), and typical dwell at the gateway runs 5–12 days.
Routing and transit on this lane
Karachi handles the overwhelming majority of Pakistan's sea volume, with Port Qasim as the second option. The China–Pakistan FTA phase II gives meaningful duty relief on a long list of tariff lines, but only against a properly issued certificate of origin. Regulatory duty on consumer goods changes with each federal budget, so verify the current rate rather than reusing last year's landed-cost model.
| Air gateways used | KHI (Karachi), LHE (Lahore), ISB (Islamabad) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 3–6 business days |
| Sea gateways used | Karachi (KICT/QICT), Port Qasim, Gwadar |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 14–22 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Pakistan | KHI air / Karachi sea |
| Inland leg to Pakistan | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 5–12 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Delivery cities in Pakistan
Principal delivery points: Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Peshawar. Pick a city for the gateway it uses and the inland leg beyond clearance.
Import duty and tax position for Pakistan
Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Pakistan consignees. Current regime: Sales tax 18%; customs duty 3–20% plus additional customs duty and regulatory duty on many consumer lines; withholding income tax on imports, with a de-minimis position of No practical de-minimis.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: PSQCA standards mark for regulated goods; import against a bank contract or letter of credit for most commercial cargo. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Pakistan: Import payment normally has to route through a bank contract or LC, which constrains DDP structures. Regulatory duty and additional customs duty are revised frequently. Used goods and many consumer categories face import bans or heavy surcharges.
Air, sea or overland into Pakistan?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Air Freight | 3–6 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| 🚢 Sea Freight | 14–22 calendar days | volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed |
Transit shown is China departure to the Pakistan gateway and excludes the same-day inland leg to Pakistan and 5–12 days of clearance.
Before you book: Pakistan checklist
- Confirm the consignee in Pakistan can act as importer of record — Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Pakistan duty rate against it yourself.
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: PSQCA standards mark for regulated goods; import against a bank contract or letter of credit for most commercial cargo.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Plan around the China-side windows too: Chinese New Year and Golden Week both compress capacity on the Pakistan lane.
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Pakistan take?
China to the Pakistan gateway is 3–6 business days by air, 14–22 calendar days by sea. On top of that, allow 5–12 days of clearance with Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) and a same-day inland leg to Pakistan.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Pakistan?
Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) applies: Sales tax 18%; customs duty 3–20% plus additional customs duty and regulatory duty on many consumer lines; withholding income tax on imports. The de-minimis position is No practical de-minimis. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Pakistan.
Which port or airport does cargo for Pakistan clear through?
Cargo for Pakistan is routed via KHI air / Karachi sea. Sea gateways for Pakistan are Karachi (KICT/QICT), Port Qasim, Gwadar; air gateways are KHI (Karachi), LHE (Lahore), ISB (Islamabad). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Pakistan?
Per kilo, yes — usually by a wide margin. The trade-off is time: 14–22 calendar days by sea versus 3–6 business days by air to the Pakistan gateway, before clearance and the same-day inland leg. The crossover point is normally somewhere between 100 and 300 kg depending on the density of your cargo.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Pakistan?
Yes. Battery cargo by air follows IATA PI 965–970 depending on how the cells are packed, and moves on certified channels via KHI (Karachi), LHE (Lahore), ISB (Islamabad). Surcharges apply and the declaration has to be made before booking.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Pakistan?
Yes. Delivery to a Pakistan address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue), and the same-day inland leg. Confirm whether your consignee wants the goods at a warehouse, a marketplace fulfilment centre or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Pakistan change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your own HS code with Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) or your broker before you ship.
- Pakistan Customs — Federal Board of Revenue
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IMO — IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
- IATA — Lithium battery shipping guidance (PI 965–970)
- World Bank — Logistics Performance Index
Page data last reviewed: July 2026.
Get a rate for Pakistan
This lane is quoted per shipment rather than from a published rate card, because the landed cost depends on the commodity, its density, the conformity requirements above and the delivery point. Send the cargo details and we will come back with a full DDP figure.