Sea Freight from China to Multan, Pakistan — Transit, Duty and Clearance
China → Multan · via LHE air / Karachi sea · clearance by Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue)
For buyers shipping into Multan, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Multan is southern Punjab agricultural trade hub; cargo enters through LHE air / Karachi sea, and allow +2 days for the inland leg on top of clearance.
Clearance itself is handled by Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue), and typical dwell at the gateway runs 5–12 days.
Duty, tax and clearance into Multan
Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Multan 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.
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.
| 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 |
Pre-shipment checklist for Multan
- Confirm the consignee in Multan can act as importer of record — Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- 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.
- Budget for the inland leg: +2 days beyond gateway clearance to reach Multan.
- Ask for the HS code in writing from your supplier and verify the Pakistan duty rate against it yourself.
- Plan around the China-side windows too: Chinese New Year and Golden Week both compress capacity on the Pakistan lane.
- Check the de-minimis position (No practical de-minimis) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Multan take?
China to the Pakistan gateway is 14–22 calendar days. 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 ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Multan?
Yes. Battery cargo by sea moves under UN3480/UN3481 with an MSDS, and the dangerous-goods documentation is prepared as part of the booking into Karachi (KICT/QICT), Port Qasim, Gwadar. Surcharges apply and space is more limited than for general cargo.
What certification do I need for Pakistan?
For regulated goods, plan for: PSQCA standards mark for regulated goods; import against a bank contract or letter of credit for most commercial cargo. Missing conformity paperwork is the single most common cause of a hold, and in most cases it cannot be remedied once the cargo has arrived.
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.
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.