Sea Freight from China to Port Qasim
China → Port Qasim · via KHI air / Port Qasim sea · clearance by Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue)
We move sea freight cargo from South China into Port Qasim through KHI air / Port Qasim sea. Port Qasim is the industrial port east of Karachi, which shapes the kind of cargo that moves on this lane and how it should be packed.
The clearing authority is Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue). Historical dwell on this gateway is around 5–12 days, and it lengthens in Sep–Nov.
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 Port Qasim | KHI air / Port Qasim sea |
| Inland leg to Port Qasim | 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
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.
What to sort out before the cargo leaves China
- Plan around the China-side windows too: Chinese New Year and Golden Week both compress capacity on the Pakistan lane.
- Budget for the inland leg: same-day delivery beyond gateway clearance to reach Port Qasim.
- 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.
- Confirm the consignee in Port Qasim can act as importer of record — Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) will not release cargo to an unregistered party.
- Check the de-minimis position (No practical de-minimis) against your invoice value before you decide how to split the shipment.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Port Qasim 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 same-day inland leg to Port Qasim.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Port Qasim?
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 Port Qasim.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Port Qasim?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight — length × width × height in centimeters 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.
When is the busiest time on the China–Pakistan lane?
Space and rates tighten around Sep–Nov, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year in January or February and Golden Week in early October. Book one to two weeks earlier in those periods.
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 Port Qasim?
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.
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: 10 月 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 — these guides cover that by commodity.
- Fabric Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather
- Salon Furniture Beauty, Personal Care & Wellness
- Sheet Metal Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Compressors General Machinery & Industrial Equipment
- Electrical Cabinets New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Flooring Building Materials & Construction Products
- Plastic Products Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Ceramic Tableware Glass & Ceramic Products
- Tableware Furniture & Home Products
- Display Stands Retail, Display & Commercial Fixtures
- Umbrellas Consumer Goods & Gifts
- Bearings Metal Products & Industrial Components
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 Port Qasim. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.
LCL vs FCL | Difference Between Full Container Load & Less than Container Load | Which is better ? — 10 Min For Supply Chain. 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 — plus who files the entry.
Pakistan clearance requirements →