Our China Base
Customs Clearance Pakistan, PIFFA Licensed
Operating in Karachi and Lahore. Al Fajar Shipping & Logistics handles Pakistan’s import customs clearance at the Karachi Port Authority (KPT), Port Qasim, and the Lahore Dry Port. We prepare documentation, file declarations through Pakistan Customs, pay duties on your behalf, and manage the clearance process from port arrival to cargo release for our freight clients and as a standalone service.
- PIFFA Licensed Freight Forwarder
- 20+ Years experience
- Lahore, Pakistan + Yiwu, China
Why Pakistani Importers Need a Sourcing Agent
What Pakistan Customs Clearance Involves and Where It Goes Wrong
Every shipment entering Pakistan passes through Pakistan Customs, which operates under the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Before goods can be collected from the port, an import customs declaration must be filed electronically through the WeBOC (Web-Based One Customs) system, duties and taxes must be assessed and paid, and the goods must either pass directly or go
through a physical examination process before port release.
The clearance timeline and outcome depend more than anything else on the quality of the documentation. An incomplete or inaccurate commercial invoice, a packing list that doesn’t match the declared goods, or a missing import permit for a regulated product category, are not minor administrative issues; they are the specific causes of customs holds, examination delays, and port charges that mount while documentation is corrected.
Al Fajar’s customs clearance service is built around getting documentation right before it is filed, not correcting it after a hold has been issued. For importers whose goods come from China, the documentation on the China side, including the commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, and export declaration, directly affects the Pakistan customs process. Our Yiwu team prepares or reviews that documentation before it leaves China, which is where most Pakistan customs problems originate.
20+
Years operating the China Pakistan corridor
Why Our Location Changes the Service
We Are in Yiwu. That Is Not a Marketing Statement
Here Is What It Means.
Al Fajar has operated from Yiwu, Zhejiang Pro,vince since our China operations began. Our office is in Yiwu. This is our permanent, staffed base, not a registered address for a company that manages China from Lahore.
When a client asks us to find a hardware supplier in Yiwu, our team walks into District 2 of the Yiwu International Trade Market, visits the booths, and talks to suppliers directly in Mandarin, that day. When a client needs a new plastic packaging supplier, our team knows which sections of the market carry the product category and which price points are realistic before the first booth visit. When a supplier’s factory needs to be verified before an order is placed, we drive to the facility, check their business licence against the national enterprise registry, inspect their production floor, and confirm that what they say they manufacture is what they actually manufacture.
This is the function of local presence. A sourcing agent in Lahore who relies on Alibaba verification badges, Google Translate conversations, and video calls via factory-facing cameras does not have this capability. We do, because our team is physically there working the Yiwu market as their daily operating environment, not coordinating it remotely.
Full Scope of Service
What Our Customs Clearance Team Manages on Your Behalf
Our Yiwu team sources across the product categories that Pakistani importers buy most consistently from the Yiwu market and surrounding Chinese manufacturing centres.
01
Import Goods Declaration (GD) Filing
We file your import declaration electronically through Pakistan Customs' WeBOC system, using the correct HS code classification for your goods and the accurately declared value.
02
Duty and Tax Calculation
We calculate your applicable customs duty, sales tax on import, and any additional duties based on your cargo's HS code and declared value before payment is due.
03
Duty Payment
We make duty and tax payments on your behalf at the applicable Pakistan Customs assessment. Payment receipts are provided for your records.
04
CommercialInvoice and Packing List Review
Before filing, we verify that your invoice and packing list are consistent with each other and with what was declared. Invoice discrepancies are one of the most common causes of holds — we catch them before filing, not after.
05
Certificate of Origin Handling
For China-origin goods eligible for preferential duty rates under the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (CPFTA), we process the Form E Certificate of Origin and apply for the applicable reduced duty rates on your behalf
06
Port Coordination and Container Release
We coordinate with port agents to manage container position, facilitate examination scheduling where required, and arrange container release once clearance is confirmed.
07
Examination Facilitation
If your goods are selected for physical examination by Pakistan Customs, whether randomly or through targeted selection, we arrange the examination appointment and coordinate the process through to release.
08
Regulatory Permit Coordination
For product categories requiring import permits from Pakistan regulatory authorities (PEC for electronics, PSQCA for quality-controlled goods, DRAP for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics), we advise on what is needed before your goods arrive and assist with coordination.
Step by Step
How Pakistan Import Customs Clearance Works
Vessel Arrival and IGM Filing
When the vessel carrying your goods approaches Pakistan, the shipping line files an Import General Manifest (IGM) with Pakistan Customs typically three to five days before the vessel berths. This registers your shipment in the customs system. Al Fajar monitors the IGM filing and confirms your consignment is correctly recorded.
Document Preparation and Verification
We collect your shipment documents , including the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, and any applicable certificates or permits an verify them for accuracy and consistency before filing. Discrepancies found at this stage are corrected before the Goods Declaration is submitted.
Goods Declaration (GD) Filing
We file your import Goods Declaration electronically through WeBOC with the correct HS code classification, declared value, and all supporting documentation. The filing triggers Pakistan Customs' assessment process.
DutyAssessment and Payment
Pakistan Customs assesses the applicable customs duty, sales tax on import, and any additional regulatory duties. We review the assessment, raise any discrepancies with the authorities where applicable, and make payment on your behalf.
Clearance or Examination
After duty payment, Pakistan Customs either issues clearance directly or selects the goods for physical examination. Approximately 70–80% of declarations are cleared without examination under the Green Channel. If your goods are selected for examination, we arrange and supervise the examination process.
Port Release and Delivery
Once clearance is confirmed, we coordinate container release at the port and handover arrangements. For importers requiring delivery to Lahore, we arrange inland bonded transport and final clearance at Lahore Dry Port.
Keep Reading
PIFFA Member Pakistan's Professional Freight Forwarding Framework
Al Fajar Shipping & Logistics is a registered member of PIFFA — the Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association. PIFFA is the professional body for licensed freight forwarders operating in Pakistan, and membership represents compliance with the operational, ethical, and professional standards the association requires of its members.
What PIFFA membership means in practice: we operate within a regulated professional framework that holds members accountable for the services they provide. If you are comparing freight forwarding options, PIFFA membership is a verifiable credential the association maintains a public member registry.
Licensed and Experienced
Faqs
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does customs clearance take in Pakistan?
With complete documentation, clearance typically takes 3–7 working days from Goods
Declaration filing. Physical examination, if selected, adds 3–5 days. Documentation errors are the
main cause of delays we review all documents before filing to prevent holds.
What documents are required for customs clearance in Pakistan?
Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill, and your NTN. For China
imports, a Form E Certificate of Origin enables CPFTA reduced duty rates. Regulated products
require additional Pakistani authority permits we advise on these before your goods depart
China.
What are the customs duties on goods imported from China?
Duties are calculated on your cargo’s HS code and declared value including customs duty
(0–35%), sales tax on imports, and applicable advance income tax. China-origin goods with a
valid Form E may qualify for reduced rates under CPFTA. Rates change with each Federal
Budget.
Can you clear customs at both Karachi Port and Lahore Dry Port?
Yes. We handle clearance at KPT, Port Qasim, and Lahore Dry Port. For Lahore-based
importers, we arrange inland bonded transport from Karachi and complete clearance at the dry
port avoiding the cost of moving cleared goods from port to Punjab.
What happens if my goods are held at customs?
Contact us immediately demurrage charges accrue daily. Holds occur for documentation
discrepancies or physical examination. We identify the issue, prepare corrected documentation if
needed, and manage the process through to release. Do not wait to see if it resolves on its own.
What is a clearing agent and why do I need one?
A clearing agent is licensed to file customs declarations and interact with Pakistan Customs
on your behalf. They manage the WeBOC filing system, port procedures, and cargo release.
Without one, the importer handles all customs processes directly which requires regulatory
knowledge most businesses do not have in-house.
Can Al Fajar handle customs if I arranged my own shipping?
Yes. Customs clearance is available as a standalone service. Provide your shipment documents
, invoice, packing list, bill of lading and we handle the full Pakistan customs process. Contact
us before goods depart China so we can review documentation in advance.
How does DDP shipping relate to customs clearance?
Under DDP, customs clearance and duty payment are included in your agreed price, with no
involvement needed from you. Under standard shipping, customs is handled separately. We offer
both: DDP for importers who want zero customs involvement, and standalone clearance for those
who arrange their own freight.
Keep Reading
Related Pages
Product Sourcing in China
How our Yiwu team finds, vets and negotiates with verified suppliers for Pakistani buyers across all categories.
China to Pakistan Shipping
We are providing FCL, LCL and air freight services from Ningbo, Shanghai and Shenzhen to Karachi and Lahore.
Why Al Fajar
Twenty years moving cargo. A real team on both sides. And a name Pakistani importers actually trust.
- Ready to Ship From China
Get a real quote from a forwarder who. operates at both ends
Please send your cargo details, and we’ll respond within one business day with a freight rate, transit time, and a clear scope that includes duties for DDP shipments.
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Quotes
quotes@alfajar.com
Lahore Operations
+92 42 3588 0000
Lahore Operations
+92 42 3588 0000