COVID-19 has revolutionized Pakistan’s buying preferences. Its people are gradually, but surely, choosing ecommerce portals over physical mom and pop stores.
This is a great time for online merchants to expand their reach to one of the largest unrealised ecommerce markets in the world.
Read on to understand the best ways for merchants to sell and ship goods from the US to Pakistan.
This guide provides information on how to ship a package from the US to Pakistan, plus tips on how ecommerce brands can better plan international shipping logistics with ShipBob.
Cost & delivery speeds for shipping to Pakistan from the US
The expense, quality, and speed of the shipping service are what most individuals and businesses care about when shipping to any city in Pakistan.
To know how fast each carrier can ship and how much it will cost, below is a list of the popular courier options from the US to Pakistan.
Most customers in Pakistan are looking for a good deal from overseas brands. If your business wants to keep the cost of goods low and offer free shipping, you need to work with the most cost-effective carrier(s).
Of course, the shipping vendors need to be reliable too. Identify a carrier(s) that scores well on both parameters for guaranteed customer delight and better profits.
To help you make this decision easily, here is a list of the services offered by the top four shipping vendors, with their respective rates and delivery timelines:
| Service | Price | Delivery Time | |
| USPS | First-Class International | $39.43 | 11-21 business days |
| USPS | Priority Mail International | $63.85 | 6-10 business days |
| UPS | Worldwide Express | $49.68 | 3-4 business days |
| UPS | UPS Worldwide Express Plus | $51.76 | 3-4 business days |
| FedEx | FedEx Cross Border Tracked | $34.31 | 6-10 business days |
| DHL | Express Worldwide | $69.29 | 1-4 business days |
USPS offers flat rate box shipping to Pakistan ranging, and we calculated the above rates using each carrier’s pricing calculators for a consistent example of a 2.2 lbs package in November 2021. Exact prices are subject to change.
Note: These are general options for consumers shipping orders. To know what ShipBob offers when shipping to other countries like Pakistan, please request a quote here.
ShipBob’s exact rates for customers will vary as we charge an all-in ‘total fulfilment cost’ that includes picking, packing, and shipping, among other factors.
How to choose a shipping carrier
Each business has a different shipping requirement. The carrier you choose will determine the efficiency of your businesses’ day-to-day logistics operations.
To assist in the evaluation process, here is a handy guide of the advantages and disadvantages of the most popular shipping partners:
Couriers | Pros | Cons |
| USPS |
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| FedEx |
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| UPS |
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| DHL |
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Shipping to Pakistan from the US with USPS
The United States Postal Service (USPS) delivers 47% of the world’s mail. Therefore it is a trusted service provider for international shipments, no matter how remote the destination. It is well-known for offering some of the lowest shipping tariffs from the US to Pakistan.
When to use USPS to ship from the US to Pakistan
If you have a heavy shipment to send, then choose USPS’ flat-rate option to save on courier costs. But, only choose this carrier if you are okay taking on the risk of delays in the courier delivery.
USPS’s Priority Mail Express International option delivers parcels in 3-5 days, while USPS GXG Envelopes delivers in just 1-3 days.
Shipping to Pakistan from the US with UPS
Founded in 1907, UPS is the world’s largest package delivery company. This Atlanta-based business delivers billions of items to over 200 countries every year.
When to use UPS to ship from the US to Pakistan
Those looking for a convenient carrier for small package delivery will find that UPS, with its many nationwide drop-off locations, is a great option. The carrier also helps you avoid the hassles of dealing with customs authorities by offering free customs support with its shipping services.
Shipping to Pakistan from the US with FedEx
Well-known for its global air express freight, FedEx is a multinational company that was started in 1971. It has a good courier tracking system, delivers even on weekends, and offers great discounts to businesses.
But, it is important to note that shipping from the US to Pakistan via FedEx is quite expensive as compared to USPS.
When to use FedEx to ship from the US to Pakistan
FedEx is perfectly suited for long-haul deliveries that are time-sensitive. It also offers real-time tracking of shipment, so that you are always aware of your parcel’s location and delivery status.
Shipping to Pakistan from the US with DHL
DHL is a German shipping company, founded in 1969, that has its presence in 220 countries. This makes it a great partner for shipping to remote destinations such as Pakistan. Notably, it offers door-to-door delivery and does not charge any pick-up fee.
When to use DHL to ship from the US to Pakistan
Are you okay paying a premium to ship your goods in a fast, reliable, and environmentally friendly manner? If yes, then choose DHL. Only, since the carrier doesn’t have too much of a presence in the US, it isn’t very convenient for parcel drop-offs.
Duties & taxes when shipping to Pakistan from the US
Goods imported into Pakistan are taxed ad valorem, aka according to value, using the CIF method. And there is no tax threshold.
The maximum general tariff rate is currently at 20%, with four duty brackets.
Here is a snapshot of the product-specific fees that are levied by Pakistan’s customs:
| Customs duty | Description |
| 40% | Bags and luggage |
| 3% | Books and collectibles |
| 3% | Computers and laptops |
| 20% | Fashion |
| 55% | Pet accessory |
| 40% | Dry food and supplements |
| 55% | Home appliances |
| 30% | Sports |
| 50% | Audio video |
A 17% sales tax also needs to be paid on the dutiable value of goods imported into the country.
Before shipping, don’t forget to check with the Pakistani customs authority for rebates of import duties, sales taxes, and income taxes.
Pakistan customs information
The Pakistani Customs authority has its presence in major points of entry and inland ports of the nation’s big cities.
When exporting goods to Pakistan you need to have a lot of documents ready such as bills of lading, invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, copies of letters of credit, and insurance certificates. And all the taxes must be paid in Pakistani Rupees.
Click here to know more about the processes followed by Pakistan’s customs authority.
Prohibited items when shipping to Pakistan
Pakistan’s customs requires international merchants to have import permits or licenses to ship goods into the nation.
It is mandatory for items such as cellular phones, watches, fountain pens, cameras, toys, and other valuable consumer products to be mailed in insured parcel post packages.
Additionally, here is a list of items that the local customs authorities have banned:
Items you can’t ship to Pakistan from the US |
| Arms and ammunition |
| Coins, banknotes, and securities of any kind payable to bearer |
| Lottery tickets or circulars relating to lotteries |
| Perishable infectious biological substances |
| Radioactive materials |
| Precious stones and jewelry |
| Obscene or immoral articles |
Be sure to check with the official Pakistan customs website before sending your goods, as the list of restricted and banned items tends to evolve with time.
What ecommerce businesses need to know about shipping to Pakistan
Want to grow your footprint into Pakistan?
Here are some initiatives that will ensure that your business enjoys greater success and customer delight.
1. Offer flexible payment
Cash on delivery and postal sales constitute 55% of the total of Pakistan’s ecommerce sales. Hence, your business should allow for more flexible offline payment modes.
2. Enable same-day delivery
Ever since COVID-19, there has been a 150% spike in searches for “same-day delivery” in Pakistan, according to Google Trends data. Therefore it is important to work with many couriers to ensure speedy shipping to Pakistani customers.
3. Localize website content
Translate your region-specific website and sales material into the local language, Urdu.
4. Boost your online presence
Research states that 81% of digitally-savvy Pakistani consumers research before buying products, specifically using Google Search and YouTube. So, you need to be more discoverable and produce strong social media content that targets these customers.
5. Offer live tracking of orders
Your customer experience suffers when parcels are delayed or lost in transit. This is why you must choose a carrier that offers live tracking of shipments to customers and merchants.
Outsource shipping and logistics to a 3PL like ShipBob
When selling internationally, if you want a partner that can help you secure the best shipping rates and delivery time, then choose a 3PL like ShipBob.
We not only take care of picking, packing, and shipping your orders to Pakistan but also offer realistic upfront fulfilment costs that include customs, duties, and additional taxes.
By partnering with ShipBob, you eliminate the need to manage retail fulfilment, logistics operations, and hire labour.
Working with ShipBob can actually turn logistics and warehousing into a revenue driver because you can increase sales and offer the shipping options, transit times, and delivery speeds that customers want.
The best part about partnering with ShipBob is you get time back to focus on more strategic initiatives, such as customer service and marketing.
“As we’ve grown internationally and in our general order volume, we’ve seen satisfaction go up. ShipBob was a key player and significant partner in helping manage what became unmanageable when we were shipping orders out ourselves.”
Matt Dryfhout, Founder & CEO of BAKblade
Ready to start shipping to Pakistan from the US? Get started with ShipBob.
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Shipping to Pakistan FAQs
Here are answers to the top questions people have about shipping packages to Pakistan from the US.
What’s the cheapest way to ship to Pakistan from the US?
Choose FedEx Priority for cheap shipping services with delivery within 1 to 3 days. FedEx Intl Connect and USPS Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Box are also cheap shipping options to Pakistan from the US. The only challenge is that the shipment will take 6 to 12 days to reach customers.
What’s the cheapest way to ship large packages to Pakistan from the US?
For packages that are heavy and not very fragile, you should use USPS’s flat rate courier services. This ensures that you are charged one fee for parcels of a certain size, no matter their weight.
What’s the fastest way to ship a package to Pakistan from the US?
For urgent shipments, it is best to employ the services of UPS Worldwide Saver or FedEx Priority. Use these services and your customers in Pakistan will receive the parcel within 1 to 3 days.
Do I have to pay customs duties and fees when shipping to Pakistan from the US?
On imports, Pakistan’s customs impose customs duty, sales tax, additional customs duty, regulatory duty, additional sales tax, excise duty, and taxation/CESS.
What’s the easiest way to ship something to Pakistan from the US?
Choose UPS or FedEx to easily ship to Pakistan from the US. For one, these couriers have an extensive domestic footprint that makes drop-offs convenient. Also, they have a reliable last-mile tracking service and insurance.
Alternatively, outsource end-to-end order fulfilment to a 3PL so that you won’t ever have to worry about choosing the right couriers or ensuring on-time delivery.
