How to Import from China to Pakistan: Complete Guide (2026)

What are the steps to import from China to Pakistan?

Every import, whether it is a single gadget or a container of tiles, goes through the same six stages. The difference is only who does the work: you, or a sourcing partner.

1. Find the product and supplier. Search Alibaba, 1688, Made-in-China or ask a sourcing agent. Compare at least three suppliers on price, minimum order quantity (MOQ) and reviews.
2. Confirm specs, samples and price. Ask for photos, a sample if the order is large, and a quote that states the price term (EXW, FOB or CIF). Agree on packaging and labelling.
3. Pay the supplier. Alibaba Trade Assurance accepts cards. 1688 needs a Chinese payment method, which is why most Pakistani buyers use an agent for 1688 orders.
4. Ship the goods. Air express for small, urgent orders. Air freight for 50–500 kg. Sea freight (LCL or FCL) for anything heavy or bulky.
5. Clear customs in Pakistan. Goods are declared on WeBOC or the Pakistan Single Window. Duty, additional duty, sales tax and advance income tax are assessed on the declared value.
6. Receive and inspect. Delivery to your address in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad or anywhere else, then count and check against the order.

Do I need a licence or registration to import?

It depends on how you import.

• Commercial import in your own name requires an NTN (National Tax Number), a Sales Tax Registration Number (STRN) for most goods, and WeBOC registration. A customs clearing agent files the Goods Declaration for you.
• Small shipments through a courier or a sourcing service are cleared by the courier or the service under their own registration. You only provide your CNIC and address. This is how most first-time and small-volume buyers import.

If you want one item, or anything under roughly 100 kg, the second route is far faster and cheaper than setting up your own import registration.

How much does it cost to import from China to Pakistan?

Your landed cost has five parts. Add them up before you decide whether a product is profitable.

A sourcing service quotes all of this as one landed price, so you know your cost per unit before you commit. See our detailed breakdown of customs duty on imports from China to Pakistan.

Should I ship by air or by sea?

Use air when the shipment is light, valuable or urgent. Use sea when it is heavy, bulky or low-margin.

• Air express (DHL, FedEx, courier consolidators): 5–10 days door to door. Best under 50 kg.
• Air freight: 7–15 days including clearance. Best for 50–500 kg.
• Sea LCL (shared container): 25–45 days. Best for 1–15 CBM.
• Sea FCL (your own container): 20–35 days. Best above 15 CBM.

Our full comparison: shipping from China to Pakistan, air vs sea.

How do I pay a Chinese supplier from Pakistan?

This is the step that stops most beginners. Pakistani bank cards often fail on Chinese platforms, and bank transfers (TT) require documentation and a bank that will process the remittance.

• Alibaba Trade Assurance: Pay by card or bank transfer through Alibaba. Your money is held until you confirm the goods. Works for many Pakistani cards, not all.
• Bank TT: Standard for larger commercial orders. Requires a proforma invoice and your bank's import documentation.
• Through a sourcing agent: You pay the agent in PKR by bank transfer, JazzCash, Easypaisa or Raast. The agent pays the supplier in RMB. This is the only practical way to buy from 1688.

What goes wrong most often, and how do I avoid it?

• Wrong product or quality. Always get photos or a video of your actual order before it ships. A pre-shipment inspection costs little compared with a rejected batch.
• Surprise duty. Know the HS code and duty rate before ordering. Under-declaring value is a customs offence and leads to penalties and delays.
• Restricted items. Some goods need permits (medical devices, certain electronics with batteries, chemicals, used machinery). Check before you pay.
• Supplier scams. Verify the company, start with a small order, and never pay 100% upfront to an unverified seller. Read our guide on finding reliable Chinese suppliers.

Is it easier to use a sourcing agent?

For a single item or any order under a few thousand dollars, almost always yes. An agent finds the supplier, negotiates, pays, ships, clears customs and delivers to your door for one quoted price. You skip the Alibaba account, the payment problems, the clearing agent and the port visits. For large recurring container orders, setting up your own import registration becomes worthwhile. Read more about what a China sourcing agent does.