Terms and Conditions
Last updated: June 2025
These terms govern the use of this website and the services provided by Al Fajar Shipping & Logistics (Pvt) Ltd. They are written in plain language. If something is unclear, contact us before engaging our services, not after a problem arises.
By using this website or engaging Al Fajar’s services, you agree to these terms.
Who These Terms Apply To
These terms apply to anyone who uses the Al Fajar Shipping & Logistics website (alfajarshipping.com) or engages Al Fajar’s freight forwarding, customs clearance, product sourcing, or related services.
Al Fajar Shipping & Logistics (Pvt) Ltd. Office M, 39 Lahore Trade Center 4 Brandreth Road, Gawalmandi Lahore, Pakistan
When we say “we,” “us,” or “Al Fajar” in these terms, we mean Al Fajar Shipping & Logistics (Pvt) Ltd. When we say “you” or “client,” we mean the person or business engaging our services.
What We Do and What We Do Not Do
Al Fajar is a licensed freight forwarder and customs clearing agent. We arrange the movement of goods on your behalf, booking vessel space, managing documentation, filing customs declarations, coordinating port release, and arranging delivery. We act as your agent, not as a carrier.
What this means in practice:
We do not own or operate vessels, aircraft, or warehouses. The physical movement of your goods is carried out by shipping lines, port operators, and transport companies we engage on your behalf. Our responsibility is to manage that process correctly, not to physically carry your goods ourselves.
When we say we “manage” a shipment, we mean we take responsibility for coordination, documentation, and communication at every stage. When something goes wrong in a stage we manage, we are accountable. When something goes wrong due to the action of a carrier, port authority, or force majeure event outside our control, our liability is limited as described in Section 9.1
Quotes, What They Include and What They Do Not
How quotes work
A quote from Al Fajar is prepared based on the cargo details you provide: commodity description, volume in CBM, weight, origin in China, and destination in Pakistan. Quotes are valid for the period stated in the quote document, typically seven to fourteen days, depending on market conditions.
What is included
Our standard quote covers sea freight from China to Pakistan, documentation handling, and Pakistan customs clearance including duty and tax payment on your behalf. The specific scope is stated in each individual quote. Read it before confirming.
What is not included unless stated
Pakistan customs duties and taxes are a government charge, they are assessed by Pakistan Customs based on your declared cargo value and applicable HS code. We include an estimate in your quote, but the final amount is determined by Pakistan Customs at the time of clearance. If the actual duty assessed differs from the estimate, for example, due to a change in rates after your quote was prepared, the difference is your responsibility. Cargo insurance is not included in a standard quote unless explicitly stated. We strongly recommend insuring your cargo. Ask us about insurance at the time of quoting.
Rate changes
Sea freight rates are market-driven and change with vessel capacity, fuel costs, and seasonal demand. A rate quoted today reflects today’s market. If market rates change significantly between when your quote was prepared and when your booking is confirmed, we will advise you. We will not apply a changed rate without informing you first.
Confirming a Shipment
A shipment is confirmed when you accept a quote in writing, by email, WhatsApp, or by signing a booking confirmation, and we confirm the booking in return. Verbal agreements are not binding on either party.
Once a shipment is confirmed and a booking has been made with the shipping line, cancellation may incur charges from the carrier. Any cancellation charges passed to us by the carrier will be charged to you at cost. We will always tell you the amount before deducting it.
Your Responsibilities as a Client
Accurate cargo information
You are responsible for providing accurate information about your goods, commodity description, declared value, quantity, weight, and dimensions. Pakistan Customs examines import declarations and verifies declared values. Providing inaccurate information, whether intentionally or accidentally, can result in customs holds, financial penalties, or seizure of goods. These consequences are your responsibility.
If you are unsure how to classify your goods or what the correct declared value should be, ask us before filing, not after.
Regulatory compliance
Some goods require additional permits or approvals to import into Pakistan, such as electronics (PEC clearance), cosmetics (DRAP approval), food products, and certain industrial goods. It is your responsibility to obtain the correct import permits for your product category before your goods are shipped. We will advise you on what is required when you tell us what you are importing. We will not be liable for holds or seizures resulting from missing permits that were your responsibility to obtain.
Payment
Our invoices are due on the terms stated on the invoice, typically within the agreed credit period or before goods are released, depending on the arrangement. Goods held at port accumulate demurrage charges daily. If payment delays on your part result in demurrage charges, those charges are yours.
OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
We are responsible for:
- Preparing accurate documentation, commercial invoice review, packing list preparation, bill of lading processing, and export customs declaration filing on the China side
- Booking vessel space at the agreed rate and on the agreed sailing
- Supervising container loading through our Yiwu team, as described in our service scope
- Filing your Pakistan import Goods Declaration correctly through WeBOC
- Paying Pakistan customs duties and taxes on your behalf from funds you have provided or from your agreed credit arrangement
- Coordinating port release at KPT, Port Qasim, or Lahore Dry Port
When we make an error in any of these areas, a documentation mistake, a filing error, a missed deadline on our part, we take responsibility for resolving it and for any directly resulting costs.
Transit Times and Delays
Transit times we quote, typically 18–25 days sea freight from Ningbo to Karachi, are estimates based on normal market conditions. They are not guarantees.
Factors that can extend transit include: vessel schedule changes by the shipping line, port congestion at Ningbo or Karachi, weather events, Chinese public holidays and post-holiday port backlogs, Pakistan customs examination, and force majeure events.
Al Fajar is not liable for losses caused by transit delays that are outside our control. We will always keep you informed of delays we become aware of and advise on available options.
Our Liability, What We Are and Are Not Responsible For
What we are liable for
We are liable for direct losses caused by our own negligence or error, for example, a documentation mistake that causes a customs hold that would not have occurred if the documentation had been prepared correctly.
What we are not liable for
We are not liable for:
- Losses caused by carriers, shipping lines, port authorities, or transport companies we engage on your behalf their liability is governed by their own terms and conditions
- Losses caused by force majeure events, natural disasters, political disruptions, pandemics, port closures, or other events outside any party’s reasonable control
- Losses resulting from inaccurate information you provided to us
- Losses resulting from missing import permits or regulatory approvals that were your responsibility to obtain
- Consequential or indirect losses, lost business, lost contracts, or lost profits, even if we were aware they could occur
Maximum liability
Where we are liable, our maximum liability is limited to the freight charges paid to us for the specific shipment in question. This does not limit liability for fraud or deliberate misconduct.
Cargo insurance
We strongly recommend cargo insurance for all shipments. It is the appropriate protection against transit risk, cargo damage, and loss. Our liability limitations above are the reason cargo insurance exists; please use it.
Additional Terms for Product Sourcing Services
When we source products from China on your behalf, these additional terms apply:
Supplier selection
We identify and verify suppliers based on the requirements you brief us on. Our verification covers legitimacy, business registration, physical presence, and stated production capacity. It does not guarantee the quality of goods produced in a full production run. Quality assurance through pre-shipment inspection is your responsibility, or can be arranged as a separate service.
Samples
Sample approval is your confirmation that the specification is acceptable. Goods produced to the approved specification are your responsibility once you have confirmed the order. Variations between samples and bulk production that are within normal manufacturing tolerances are not grounds for return or refund once production has begun.
Supplier relationships
Supplier contacts identified and developed by our Yiwu team during a sourcing engagement are introduced for the purpose of your order. Using those contacts to bypass our involvement in future orders, without prior agreement, is not permitted and may result in termination of our service arrangement.
Using This Website
This website is provided for information purposes. The content on this site, service descriptions, freight process explanations, and transit time estimates, reflects our current operations and general market conditions. It is not a binding quote or commitment.
You may not use this website to:
- Submit false enquiries or misrepresent your identity or business
- Attempt to access systems or data you are not authorised to access
- Copy or reproduce our content without written permission
Our Content
The content on this website, text, structure, service descriptions, and design, was developed by Al Fajar Shipping & Logistics. You may not reproduce, republish, or distribute it without our written permission.
The Al Fajar name, logo, and brand are our property. Unauthorised use is not permitted.
Governing Law and Disputes
These terms are governed by the laws of Pakistan. Any disputes arising from these terms or from our service arrangements will first be attempted to be resolved through direct communication. If direct resolution fails, disputes will be subject to the jurisdiction of courts in Lahore, Pakistan.
If you have a complaint about our service, contact us first. Most issues are resolved faster through a direct conversation than through formal processes.
Contact for disputes or complaints:
Email: [info@alfajarshipping.com] Phone: +92 42 3588 0000
Changes to These Terms
We may update these terms from time to time. When we do, we will update the date at the top of this page. If the changes are significant, we will notify active clients directly.
The version of these terms in effect at the time you confirm a shipment with us is the version that applies to that shipment.
Questions About These Terms
Al Fajar Shipping & Logistics (Pvt) Ltd. Office M, 39 Lahore Trade Center 4 Brandreth Road, Gawalmandi, Lahore, Pakistan
Email: [info@alfajarshipping.com]
Phone: +92 42 3588 0000
Website: alfajarshipping.com