Shipping from China to Multan, Pakistan — Freight Guide [2026]
China → Multan · via LHE air / Karachi sea · clearance by Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue)
We move freight cargo from South China into Multan through LHE air / Karachi sea. Multan is southern Punjab agricultural trade hub, which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.
Clearance itself is handled by Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue), and typical dwell at the gateway runs 5–12 days.
How this lane actually runs
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 Multan | LHE air / Karachi sea |
| Inland leg to Multan | +2 days from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 5–12 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Import duty and tax position for Multan
Imports into Pakistan are cleared by Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue). The headline position is: 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 threshold is 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 Multan?
| 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 +2 days inland leg to Multan and 5–12 days of clearance.
Before you book: Multan checklist
- Check the de-minimis position (No practical de-minimis) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Budget for the inland leg: +2 days beyond gateway clearance to reach Multan.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
Mode guides for Multan
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Multan 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 +2 days inland leg to Multan.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Multan?
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 Multan.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Multan?
Yes. Delivery to a Multan address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue), and the +2 days 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.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Multan?
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.
What documents does Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) require?
A commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where it lowers duty, and any product certification (PSQCA standards mark for regulated goods; import against a bank contract or letter of credit for most commercial cargo). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight into Multan?
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 +2 days inland leg. The crossover point is normally somewhere between 100 and 300 kg depending on the density of your cargo.
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 Multan
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.