Shipping from China to Lahore
China โ Lahore ยท via LHE air / Karachi sea ยท clearance by Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue)
For buyers shipping into Lahore, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Lahore is Punjab commercial capital; 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 5โ12 days.
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 ChinaโPakistan 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 | 3โ6 business days |
| Sea gateways used | Karachi (KICT/QICT), Port Qasim, Gwadar |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 14โ22 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Lahore | LHE air / Karachi sea |
| Inland leg to Lahore | +2 days from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 5โ12 days |
| Peak season to plan around | SepโNov |
What you will pay on arrival in Pakistan
Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Lahore consignees. Current regime: Sales tax 18%; customs duty 3โ20% 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 Lahore?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| โ๏ธ Air Freight | 3โ6 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| ๐ข Sea Freight | 14โ22 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 Lahore and 5โ12 days of clearance.
Pre-shipment checklist for Lahore
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front โ retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure โ it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- 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.
- Put the Lahore delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Budget for the inland leg: +2 days beyond gateway clearance to reach Lahore.
Mode guides for Lahore
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Lahore take?
China to the Pakistan gateway is 3โ6 business days by air, 14โ22 calendar days by sea. On top of that, allow 5โ12 days of clearance with Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) and a +2 days inland leg to Lahore.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Lahore?
Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) applies: Sales tax 18%; customs duty 3โ20% 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 Lahore.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Lahore?
Yes. Delivery to a Lahore 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 fulfillment center or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.
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 ship batteries or sensitive cargo to Lahore?
Yes. Battery cargo by air follows IATA PI 965โ970 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.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Lahore?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight โ length ร width ร height in centimeters divided by 6000 for air โ 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 โ confirm the current position for your own HS code with Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) or your broker before you ship.
- Pakistan Customs โ Federal Board of Revenue
- WTO โ Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IMO โ IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
- IATA โ Lithium battery shipping guidance (PI 965โ970)
- World Bank โ Logistics Performance Index
Page data last reviewed: 10 ๆ 2026.
Shipping by industry
This page covers the route and clearance picture for the destination. Packing, classification and the compliance step that actually holds a shipment depend on what you are sending โ these guides cover that by commodity.
- Wall Panels Building Materials & Construction Products
- Injection Molded Parts Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Furniture Furniture & Home Products
- Home Storage Products Furniture & Home Products
- Exhibition Display Equipment Retail, Display & Commercial Fixtures
- Aluminum Coils Steel & Metal Materials
- Pipe Fittings Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Generators New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Ceramic Tiles Building Materials & Construction Products
- Paper Packaging Wood, Bamboo & Paper Products
- Packaging Materials Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Laboratory Furniture Furniture & Home Products
Checking the Pakistan duty position yourself
Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) against your declared HS code at the time of entry; where the amount is material, verify the current rate through ITC Market Access Map before committing to an order.
Most landed-cost surprises trace back to classification rather than freight. the WCO Harmonized System defines the heading structure every customs administration builds on, and ITC Market Access Map will show you the duty a given heading attracts in this destination.
For ocean cargo, restricted commodities move under the IMO's IMDG Code, and the container has to be declared and stowed accordingly. Batteries, flammables and corrosives all have a compliant ocean path; what causes rolled bookings is finding out about them after the container is packed.
If this is your first shipment into Pakistan, the Pakistan Country Commercial Guide covers the practical import environment in more depth than a rate page reasonably can, and it is written by a party with no stake in your booking.
Watch: the process behind this route
This guide covers routing and clearance for Lahore. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.
Sea Freight from China: How to import from China to your country via Ocean Shipping — SINO Shipping. Published on YouTube by a third party; we link it because it explains the process well, not because we produced it or endorse the provider.
Customs clearance in Pakistan
Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border โ plus who files the entry.
Pakistan clearance requirements →