Customs Clearance in Pakistan
Import entries into Pakistan are administered by Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue). Cargo typically sits 5–12 days at the gateway before release, and most of that window is documentation rather than physical inspection. We handle the entry itself — classification, valuation, duty and tax settlement, and the release — either as part of a delivered duty-paid movement or as a standalone brokerage service on cargo somebody else is shipping.
Clearance profile — Pakistan
| Customs authority | Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) |
|---|---|
| Duty and tax | Sales tax 18%; customs duty 3–20% plus additional customs duty and regulatory duty on many consumer lines; withholding income tax on imports |
| De-minimis | No practical de-minimis |
| Certification | PSQCA standards mark for regulated goods; import against a bank contract or letter of credit for most commercial cargo |
| Typical port dwell | 5–12 days |
| Sea gateways | Karachi (KICT/QICT), Port Qasim, Gwadar |
| Air gateways | KHI (Karachi), LHE (Lahore), ISB (Islamabad) |
Compiled from the destination customs authority and port operators as a buyer-planning reference. It is not a customs ruling — the binding position depends on your HS heading and the consignee's status.
What we do on the entry
- Classification. We agree the HS heading before the cargo sails, not after it lands. A heading argued at the border costs storage every day it runs.
- Valuation. We build the customs value the way Pakistan expects it — including or excluding freight and insurance according to the local rule, with the supporting evidence attached.
- Entry filing and duty settlement. Lodged in the consignee's name or, where the market allows it, under our own importer arrangement.
- Release and onward delivery. Terminal release, any inspection attendance, and delivery to the door if you want the movement quoted duty-paid.
What actually holds shipments here
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.
None of that is unusual, but all of it is easier to resolve before the container sails than after it arrives.
How the lane behaves
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.
Documents we will ask for
- Commercial invoice and packing list matching the goods exactly
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Certificate of origin where a preference is claimed
- Consignee registration or tax identifier for the market
- Product certification, permits or licences where the commodity requires them
Mismatches between the invoice and the transport document are the single most common reason an entry is queried. We check them before filing rather than after a query lands.
Clearing agents in Pakistan
Our entries in Pakistan are filed by licensed local brokers, not sub-contracted blind. If you hold a customs broker licence or AEO authorisation here, we are open to adding capacity — we send referred volume from an ocean freight book that already discharges at your gateways.
The network is vetted rather than open: licence verification with the issuing authority, insurance, two contactable references and supervised trial entries before any unsupervised volume.
Apply to become our Pakistan clearance partner →Freight rates into Pakistan
Clearance is quoted alongside the freight. These are the priced lanes we currently run into this market.
- Shanghai to Port Qasim Container Shipping — 20GP Rates
- Shekou to Karachi Container Shipping — 20GP Rates
- Shekou–Port Qasim Sea Freight: Container Rates and Schedule
- Shipping a Container from Shanghai to Karachi: Cost & Transit
Destination guide
Gateways, inland legs, port behaviour and seasonal pressure for Pakistan — the background this clearance page assumes.
Pakistan destination guide →Common questions
Who administers customs clearance in Pakistan?
Import entries are administered by Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue).
How long does clearance take in Pakistan?
Cargo typically sits 5–12 days at the gateway. Complete paperwork lodged before arrival is what keeps a shipment at the short end of that range.
What duty and tax applies in Pakistan?
Sales tax 18%; customs duty 3–20% plus additional customs duty and regulatory duty on many consumer lines; withholding income tax on imports The rate that applies to your shipment depends on the HS heading — send the specification for a firm figure.
Can you clear cargo in Pakistan that you did not ship?
Yes. Brokerage is available as a standalone service on cargo moved by another forwarder, as well as bundled into a duty-paid movement we carry ourselves.
Do you work with local brokers in Pakistan?
Yes — our clearance network is built on vetted local licence holders. Brokers in this market can apply to join through our partner programme.