Moving from the UAE to Pakistan
In short
Shipping household goods from the UAE to Pakistan takes 10–20 days port to port for a full container to Karachi and Port Qasim, or 3–6 days by air through Islamabad Intl. Clearance is handled by Pakistan Customs — Federal Board of Revenue under Transfer of Residence and Personal Baggage Rules. Karachi and Port Qasim clear differently; returning residents should carry proof of continuous stay abroad for the relief.
| Capital | Islamabad |
|---|---|
| Arrival port | Karachi, Port Qasim |
| Airport | Islamabad Intl |
| Sea — full container | 10–20 days |
| Sea — shared container | 20–30 days |
| Air freight | 3–6 days |
What is different about moving to Pakistan?
Karachi Port and Port Qasim are separate facilities with different clearance queues; Port Qasim is usually less congested. Relief requires proof of continuous stay abroad, and the qualifying period differs for returning nationals and foreign residents.
Who clears your shipment in Pakistan?
Pakistan Customs — Federal Board of Revenue, under Transfer of Residence and Personal Baggage Rules. Inland movement to Lahore or Islamabad is around 1,200 km by road from Karachi and is a substantial cost line.
How long does it take, and by which route?
A full container runs 10–20 days port to port to Karachi and Port Qasim; shared container space takes 20–30 days because it must be consolidated before departure and unpacked on arrival. Air freight through Islamabad Intl is 3–6 days. Add roughly two weeks across packing, clearance at both ends and final delivery.
What happens when it arrives?
Karachi and Lahore deliveries contend with heavy traffic and narrow lanes in older areas; DHA and Bahria developments have good access. We survey the destination access before quoting rather than discovering it on the day, because a street a full-size vehicle cannot enter means a shuttle, and an upper floor without a lift means a longer carry. Both are priced at survey.
Documents you need
- Passport copy — Photo page, plus the UAE residence visa and exit stamp.
- Itemised and valued packing list — The document customs actually reads. We produce it as the goods are packed.
- Proof of continuous residence abroad — Employment or tenancy records covering the qualifying period.
- Transfer of Residence declaration — Confirms you are returning to settle rather than visiting.
- Bill of lading or air waybill — Issued once the shipment is loaded.
- Authorisation for the clearing agent — Lets our destination agent clear on your behalf.
Shipping a vehicle
Vehicle import into Pakistan is tightly restricted. Age limits, homologation requirements and duty rates that can approach or exceed the vehicle's own value rule out most cars being shipped from the UAE. For the majority of people relocating, selling before departure is the better financial outcome, and we will tell you so rather than quote a shipment that will not clear economically.
Taking pets
Cats and dogs travelling to Pakistan need a microchip, a current rabies vaccination and an international veterinary health certificate, and most destinations also require an import permit obtained in advance. Where a rabies antibody titre test is required, it carries a fixed waiting period after the sample is taken that cannot be compressed — which is why a pet move is planned around the animal's calendar rather than your flight date.
Restricted and prohibited items
- Satellite phones
- Drones without prior clearance
- Gold and silver beyond declared allowances
- Maps depicting disputed borders
- Flammable liquids, gas cylinders, aerosols and paint
- Fireworks, ammunition and explosives
- Narcotics and controlled substances
- Endangered species products (CITES)
What affects the price
Volume is the main driver, then whether you take shared container space or a full container — the crossover usually sits around fifteen cubic metres. Destination charges at Karachi and Port Qasim are billed separately from the ocean freight and vary more than people expect. Delivery to an address a full-size vehicle cannot reach needs a smaller shuttle, and that is quoted at survey rather than added afterwards.
Questions about Pakistan
Karachi Port or Port Qasim?
Port Qasim is often less congested and clears faster, though Karachi Port has more household-goods handling experience. We quote both, because a few days of demurrage difference outweighs a small freight variance.
How much does inland delivery to Lahore add?
A great deal — around 1,200 km by road from Karachi. On this corridor the sea leg is short and inexpensive while the domestic haul is the dominant cost, which is the opposite of what most people expect.
Who decides whether I pay duty in Pakistan?
Pakistan Customs — Federal Board of Revenue, applying Transfer of Residence and Personal Baggage Rules. Goods you have genuinely owned and used abroad normally qualify; anything new, unused or bought shortly before the move is assessed on its own, and alcohol and tobacco are excluded almost everywhere. We confirm your position in writing before booking.
What will hold my shipment up at Karachi and Port Qasim?
A vague inventory, more than anything else. "Kitchen items" invites an officer to open the box; "6 dinner plates, 8 glasses, 1 blender, AED 450" does not. After that it is missing residence documentation, which is why we assemble it before the vessel sails rather than after it berths.
What cannot be shipped to Pakistan?
Flammable liquids, gas cylinders, aerosols, paint and ammunition are refused on every route we run. Pakistan adds its own restrictions, including satellite phones and drones without prior clearance. Anything on your inventory that will cause a problem is flagged before it is packed.
Customs, vehicle and pet import rules change, and transit bands are corridor averages rather than promises. We confirm what applies to your shipment in writing before booking.
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