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Import Knowledge Base
Learn the trade,
not just the shipment.
Practical, Pakistan-specific guidance on sourcing, freight, customs and cost control — written by the people who file the declarations.
Who pays, and where does your risk end?
The single most expensive misunderstanding in Pakistani importing is assuming CIF means "delivered". It does not.
| Incoterm | Export clearance | Main freight | Insurance | Import duty | Risk passes at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXW Ex Works | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Factory gate |
| FOB Free On Board | Seller | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | On board at Chinese port |
| CFR Cost & Freight | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer | On board at Chinese port |
| CIF Cost, Ins & Freight | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer | On board at Chinese port |
| DAP Delivered At Place | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Your address, before duty |
| DDP Delivered Duty Paid | Seller | Seller | Seller | Seller | Your address, duty paid |
The FOB trap. Under CIF your risk passes the moment the box is loaded in China — but you still handle Pakistani clearance, port charges, demurrage and delivery. Many "cheap CIF" quotes simply move cost into destination charges you cannot see. Titan Chain quotes DAP and DDP so the number you approve is the number you pay.
The paperwork that actually clears Karachi.
A Goods Declaration is only as good as the documents behind it. Mismatches between invoice, packing list and B/L are the number one cause of valuation queries.
Core commercial set
- Commercial invoice — supplier letterhead, unit prices, Incoterm, currency
- Packing list — cartons, net and gross weight, dimensions, marks
- Bill of lading or air waybill — consignee and notify exactly as registered
- Certificate of origin — essential for China–Pakistan FTA concessions
- Insurance certificate where the Incoterm requires it
Pakistan-side requirements
- NTN and Sales Tax registration, active on the FBR taxpayer list
- PSW / WeBOC trader profile and authorised clearing agent link
- Goods Declaration filed under pre-arrival processing before berthing
- Bank contract and remittance documentation for the payment channel
- Product-specific approvals — PSQCA, DRAP, PTA, PNAC as applicable
Regulated categories to plan early
- Electronics and telecom — PTA type approval
- Food, cosmetics and supplements — DRAP or provincial food authority
- Toys, textiles, cement, steel — PSQCA conformity
- Machinery — often eligible for concessionary SRO rates with correct evidence
What we prepare for you
- Draft invoice and packing list matched to the declared HS heading
- Written classification opinion with supporting tariff reasoning
- GD data pack and duty computation before the vessel sails
- Post-clearance file: challan, GD copy, delivery order, POD
China → Pakistan benchmarks.
Planning figures our desk uses. Verified against current market conditions in mid-2026; always confirm live pricing before you commit to a customer deadline.
| Mode | Typical transit | Indicative cost | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea FCL 20GP | 15–25 days direct up to 35 with transshipment | USD 1,800–2,200 per box | Full loads, heavy goods, stable demand | Karachi congestion has been adding 5–12 days in peak quarters |
| Sea FCL 40GP/HQ | 15–25 days direct | USD 1,890–2,310 per box | Volume buyers, best cost per CBM | Free-time and detention clocks start at discharge |
| Sea LCL | 10–14 days ocean 30–40 days door to door | USD 15–20 per CBM ocean leg | 0.1–12 CBM, first orders, testing a product | Consolidation adds 3–7 days, deconsolidation 3–5 more |
| Air freight | 3–7 days 3–4 days into KHI/LHE | Market-driven per chargeable kg | High value, urgent restocks, launches | Chargeable weight = volume ÷ 6,000; bulky cargo punished |
| Express courier | 2–5 days | Highest per kg | Samples and documents under 30 kg | Duty still applies above de-minimis thresholds |
| Road via Khunjerab | 10–18 days | Between sea and air | Cargo originating in western China | Weather and border throughput; pass now open year-round |
| Rail via CPEC | Corridor runs 1,872 km Kashgar → Karachi | Between sea and air | Balanced cost and speed, inland China origins | Capacity is scaling but service frequency varies by lane |
Rates move — plan with ranges, book with quotes. Sea rates into Karachi moved sharply in mid-2026, and Middle East routing risk continues to feed volatility. Treat every figure here as a planning band, not a contract price.