MetEx House, 496a Great West Road, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW5 0TE  ·  Shipping since 1998
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📋 Customs Guide • Pakistan 🇵🇰 • Excess Luggage Co.

What Can I Ship to Pakistan? 🇵🇰
Customs rules, prohibited items & required documents

⛨ Official source: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Pakistan Customshttps://www.fbr.gov.pk

Pakistani customs requires accurate declared values for every item on the packing list. Do not leave values blank or understate them — shipments with incomplete documentation are held at Karachi customs. Eight airports served including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Faisalabad.

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📍 Part of our complete Shipping to Pakistan hub — Transfer of Residence, customs, costs & every service ›
Transit times

✈ Air freight to Pakistan: 4-9 working days, subject to space and flight availability with the carriers from UK door collection • ⚓ Sea freight: 6-10 weeks via Karachi • Price confirmed before we collect • Freephone 0800 096 38 39

Items restricted or controlled when shipping to Pakistan

These items are not automatically refused but face restrictions, duties, inspections or require specific documentation. Check before you pack.

⚠ Electronics and electrical goods

Subject to duties. Televisions and large appliances attract significant import duty.

⚠ Gold and jewellery

Subject to strict import limits and duties above personal allowances.

⚠ Currency

Import of Pakistani Rupees is restricted. Foreign currency above $10,000 USD must be declared.

⚠ Medications and pharmaceuticals

Controlled substances require DRAP (Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan) documentation.

⚠ Food items

Many food products are restricted. Check with Pakistan Customs for specific items.

⚠ Alcohol

Non-Muslims may import limited quantities with specific documentation. Generally not accepted on personal effects.

⚠ Publications and media

Material considered offensive to Islamic values is prohibited.

⚠ Tobacco products

Subject to duties and quantity restrictions for personal use.

Items you cannot ship to Pakistan on any service

The following items are prohibited on all services — air freight, sea freight and door-to-door (subject to your destination). Do not pack them. Items found during inspection will be confiscated, and you may face penalties.

Illegal drugs and narcotics
Pornographic material
Material offensive to Islam or Pakistan
Firearms and ammunition without specific permits
Counterfeit goods and currency
Goods from Israel
Lithium batteries — not accepted in a standard shipment (can be sent as declared dangerous goods, ask us)
Aerosols and pressurised containers
Flammable liquids including perfumes
⚡ Lithium batteries — universal restriction: Lithium batteries are not accepted in a standard shipment to any destination — air or sea. They can be packed and exported as declared dangerous goods — ask us before you pack. Undeclared dangerous goods are a criminal offence and the duty sits with the sender. This includes loose batteries, power banks and devices containing lithium batteries. If you are unsure whether an item contains a lithium battery, call us before packing.

Documents you need to ship personal effects to Pakistan

Customs clearance at destination is your responsibility as sender — who must also be the receiver for personal effects classification. Have these documents ready before we collect.

Accurate itemised packing list — every item with declared value (essential)
Valid passport of receiver
Booking reference from Excess Luggage Co.
Air Waybill (AWB) — prepared by us
Do not leave declared values blank — shipments held at Karachi customs
⚠ Important — Shipper Liability & Storage Charges

If customs or inspection issues arise at the destination — including holds, queries or inspections — you must respond promptly. Failure to respond, or submission of incorrect documentation, will result in storage charges accumulating at the destination warehouse at your cost.

You are liable for storage, inspection fees and any duties that arise where:

Your packing list is incomplete, vague or does not match the physical contents of the shipment
Tax identification numbers (Tax ID, TIN, VAT, IOSS or local equivalent) are missing or incorrectly provided where required by the destination country
Declared values are inaccurate, understated or missing
Prohibited or restricted items are found during inspection
You do not respond to customs queries or inspection notices within the required timeframe
Required signatures, originals or supporting documents are not received before the day of collection

If you are unsure about any item, its declared value, or the documentation required for your destination — call us before you pack. We would rather spend ten minutes on the phone with you than have your shipment held at customs for two weeks while fees accumulate.

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What we know from shipping to Pakistan since 1998

After more than two decades on this route, we know exactly what causes shipments to be held, delayed or refused at Pakistan customs. These are the practical tips that make the difference.

1

Declared values are critical in Pakistan. Write realistic values — inspectors compare against market prices.

2

Electronics will be checked carefully. Declare model numbers and accurate values.

3

Allow extra clearance time during Eid and Ramadan peak periods.

4

Karachi is the main sea freight port — sea transit is 6-10 weeks from the UK. These sea transit times are approximate — the actual time depends on when your LCL container finishes loading and consolidating, the vessel’s sailing date and route, any transhipment hub before the final destination, and customs clearance, so please allow a week or two either side.

5

Call us before packing if you are unsure about any specific item.

How we handle your shipment

“We collect your luggage ourselves. We check it is properly packed, wrapped and secured before it leaves your door. After 28 years we know what arrives safely and what doesn’t. That happens before the bag is in the air — not after.”

Lak Kharod — Director, Excess Luggage Co. Since 1998

What your quote does not cover

⚠ Door-to-Door Services — Destination Charges Not Included

Your UK shipping quote does not include the following destination charges. These are levied by governing bodies and government agencies at the arrival country and are payable by you directly at destination:

Quarantine and biosecurity inspection fees — mandatory government charges, payable per consignment at destination, levied by the arrival country’s quarantine or biosecurity authority (e.g. AQIS in Australia, MPI in New Zealand). Payable per consignment at destination. Not included in your UK quote.
Government inspection fees — charges levied by customs authorities or other governing bodies where your shipment is selected for physical inspection. These are outside our control and not included in your UK quote.
Storage fees — if your shipment is held at the destination warehouse due to customs queries, incorrect documentation, missing tax IDs or failure to respond to inspection notices, storage charges accumulate at your cost. These are payable before your shipment is released.
Customs duties and taxes — any import duties, VAT, GST or local taxes assessed by the destination customs authority on your shipment are payable by you at destination.
Cargo dues and wharfage — mandatory port or airport handling charges levied by the destination authority (e.g. Ad Valorem Wharfage in South Africa, cargo dues in Nigeria). Payable per consignment at destination.

These charges are mandatory, set by the destination country’s governing bodies, and outside our control. We will advise you of known destination charges for your route at the time of booking so you can budget accordingly. If you have questions about what to expect at your destination, call us on 0800 096 38 39 before you book.

Shipping to Pakistan — customs FAQs

What items are completely prohibited when shipping to Pakistan?
The following items are prohibited on all services to Pakistan: Illegal drugs and narcotics, Pornographic material, Material offensive to Islam or Pakistan, Firearms and ammunition without specific permits, Counterfeit goods and currency and more. Lithium batteries are not accepted in a standard shipment worldwide — air or sea. They can be packed and exported as declared dangerous goods — ask us before you pack. Undeclared dangerous goods are a criminal offence and the duty sits with the sender. If you are unsure about a specific item, call us on 0800 096 38 39 before you pack.
How long does shipping to Pakistan take? +
By air freight: 4-9 working days from UK door collection to the arrival airport. By sea freight: 6-10 weeks via Karachi. All transit times are estimates. We recommend allowing buffer time during peak periods. Price is confirmed before we collect anything.
Who clears customs in Pakistan? +
For standard air freight and sea freight services, you — as sender and receiver — clear customs at the destination airport or seaport. The sender and receiver must be the same person for personal effects classification. For door-to-door (subject to your destination) services (subject to your destination), customs clearance is handled for you by our local agent.
Can I ship electronics to Pakistan? +
Most personal electronics are accepted but may be subject to customs duties or inspection at destination. Laptops are accepted on standard air freight and sea freight. Lithium batteries are not accepted on any service. Declare all devices accurately with model numbers and realistic declared values on your packing list.
Is a booking deposit required? +
All bookings require a £75.00 non-refundable deposit to secure your collection date. This is offset against your total shipping charge at the time of invoice — not an additional fee.
👤
Lak Kharod
Director, Excess Luggage Co. • 28 years shipping to Pakistan
Excess Luggage Co. was founded in 1998 and we have overseen shipped worldwide from MetEx House, Hounslow — right next to Heathrow. Pakistan is one of our most active routes and our team knows the customs requirements well. If you have a question about what you can and cannot ship, call us at Excess Luggage Co. on 0800 096 38 39 before you pack.

Ready to ship to Pakistan?

Tell us your UK collection postcode, destination in Pakistan, number of bags and when you need to ship. Price confirmed before we collect anything.

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