Shipping from China to Karachi, Pakistan — Freight Guide [2026]
China → Karachi · via KHI air / Karachi sea · clearance by Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue)
For buyers shipping into Karachi, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Karachi is the port city handling most national import volume; cargo enters through KHI air / Karachi sea, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
On the destination side, Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) handles clearance; budget 5–12 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
What the routing looks like in practice
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 Karachi | KHI air / Karachi sea |
| Inland leg to Karachi | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 5–12 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
What you will pay on arrival in Pakistan
Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Karachi 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 Karachi?
| 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 Karachi and 5–12 days of clearance.
Before you book: Karachi checklist
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Put the Karachi delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- 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.
Mode guides for Karachi
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Karachi 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 Karachi.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Karachi?
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 Karachi.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Karachi?
Yes. Delivery to a Karachi 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.
Can you ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Karachi?
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.
Which port or airport does cargo for Karachi clear through?
Cargo for Karachi 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.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Karachi?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight — length × width × height in centimetres divided by 6000 for air — and bill the greater of the two, rounded up to the next kilogram. Light, bulky cargo is almost always billed on volume.
Other delivery cities in Pakistan
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 Karachi
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.