# Importing from China to Pakistan: Alibaba, cargo routes, duty and papers

URL: https://which.pk/business/guides/import-from-china-to-pakistan/
Author: Ahtisham
Updated: 18 Oct 2026

## Summary

To import from China to Pakistan commercially you need an NTN, a Rs 500 PSW subscription and a bank profile linked in PSW; no general import licence is needed unless the goods are banned or restricted. Pay through your bank by LC, advance payment or collection. Phase II of the Pakistan-China FTA made 3,251 tariff lines duty free from January 2020 and cuts others over time, but you need a China-Pakistan FTA certificate of origin to claim it. Imports from China were $19.5 billion in FY26.

## Key facts

- Imports from China, FY26: $19.5 billion
- Zero-duty lines under the FTA: 3,251 from Jan 2020
- PSW subscription: Rs 500 one-time
- Advance payment deadline: Goods in within 120 days

To **import from China to Pakistan** as a business, you need an **NTN**, a **Rs 500 PSW subscription** and a bank profile linked in Pakistan Single Window (PSW), as of October 2026. You pay the supplier through your bank, ship by sea or by road over the Khunjerab Pass, and clear Pakistan Customs here. Many goods pay less duty under the Pakistan-China free trade agreement (FTA), but only with a **China-Pakistan FTA certificate of origin**.

**Imports from China, FY26:** $19.5 billion (Up 19.8% from FY25, per SBP data reported by Qatar Tribune on 23 Jul 2026. China supplies about 98% of what Pakistan imports from its nine neighbours.)

## What do I need to import from China to Pakistan?

The Import Policy Order, 2022 lets you import goods **from any country** unless they are banned, prohibited or restricted. There is no general import licence. What you do need:

- an **NTN** (National Tax Number). See [how to get an NTN](/business/guides/how-to-get-ntn/).
- a **PSW subscription**: Rs 500, one-time, with biometric at a NADRA e-Sahulat centre. See [PSW registration](/business/guides/psw-registration/).
- a **bank profile** in PSW. PSW replaced the old Electronic Import Form (EIF) with bank profiles you link under "Associate New Profile" with your IBAN.
- the **HS code** of your goods, which decides the duty. See our [HS code guide](/business/guides/hs-code-pakistan/).

Check that your goods aren't on a banned or restricted list first; our [import and export licence guide](/business/guides/import-export-licence-pakistan/) has the lists. Some used goods are banned too: goods in Appendix-C of the Order can't come in second-hand unless specifically exempted.

## How do I pay a Chinese supplier?

The Import Policy Order allows all modes of payment, subject to State Bank of Pakistan procedures. Your bank sends the payment instrument (LC, advance payment or contract) to PSW. The usual routes:

| Payment route | How it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Letter of credit (LC) | Your bank pays against the supplier's shipping documents, such as the bill of lading | Bank charges; see our [LC guide](/business/guides/letter-of-credit-pakistan/) |
| Advance payment | Bank pays up to 100% upfront against an LC or invoice | Goods must arrive within **120 days** (730 for plant and machinery) or a **0.1% a day** penalty applies |
| Contract or collection | You register the contract or proforma with your bank, which pays when documents arrive from the supplier's bank | Bank registration and handling charges |

The advance payment rules apply from 30 January 2024, under SBP's EPD Circular Letter No. 01 of 2024.

## Is Alibaba safe for importing to Pakistan?

Alibaba.com's **Trade Assurance** covers orders agreed with a supplier and **paid through Alibaba.com**. Your payment is held in escrow and released to the supplier after you confirm the goods arrived.

- You can claim a refund if the order isn't shipped, goes missing or arrives defective, wrong or damaged.
- Claims must be made within **30 days of delivery** (60 days for Alibaba's Enterprise buyers).
- Alibaba mediates if you and the supplier can't agree.
- Its free **Easy Return** service is only for orders under USD 3,000 in listed countries; Pakistan isn't among the examples Alibaba shows.

**Trade Assurance doesn't clear Customs:** Alibaba's protection is about the supplier. Your goods still go through Pakistan Customs, and you pay duty here. We couldn't confirm whether paying an Alibaba order by card counts as a valid import payment under SBP rules for a commercial shipment, so ask your bank before you order.

## Can I import from China to Pakistan by road?

Yes. The road route crosses the **Khunjerab Pass** to the **Sost dry port** in Gilgit-Baltistan. The border has traditionally closed every year on **30 November** because of snow. In winter 2024-25, Pakistan and China kept it open for trade from 1 December 2024 to 30 April 2025, for the first time, Nukta reported. We couldn't confirm whether that was repeated in winter 2025-26, and as of October 2026 we found no dates for the 2026-27 winter.

In July 2026 the National Logistics Board told NLC to prioritise expanding the Sost dry port and building a Khunjerab border terminal, Radio Pakistan reported.

For sea and air freight, we don't publish cargo rates per kg or transit times: the figures we found were forwarders' adverts, not dated price lists. Get written quotes from two or three freight forwarders and ask whether they include clearing in Pakistan.

## How much is import duty from China to Pakistan?

The duty depends on the **HS code** of your goods. Customs charges duty on the **transaction value**, the price actually paid for export to Pakistan (section 25 of the Customs Act), then adds the other duties and taxes. Our [customs duty guide](/business/guides/customs-duty-pakistan/) shows how the layers stack, with a worked example.

The FTA lowers the customs duty on many goods from China. Phase II took effect on **1 January 2020** under **S.R.O. 1640(I)/2019**:

| FTA category | What happens to customs duty |
|---|---|
| A0 | Zero from 1 January 2020 (3,251 tariff lines) |
| A7 | Cut to zero between years 2 and 7 |
| A15 | Cut to zero between years 4 and 15 |
| MOP1, MOP2 | Cut by 20% of the base rate |
| C1 | Stays at the base rate |
| C2 | No concession |

About a quarter of tariff lines (1,760 items) are on a **protected list**, China Briefing reports. It covers sectors such as textiles and clothing, iron and steel, autos, electrical equipment, footwear and leather. Protected items keep their tariff protection, so check carefully if your goods are in these sectors. Look up your exact HS code in the SRO's schedule before you work out your landed cost.

## What is the China-Pakistan FTA certificate of origin?

To claim the FTA rate, the shipment needs a **Certificate of Origin, China-Pakistan FTA**. The Chinese exporter fills it in, and a certifying authority in China checks and stamps it. Pakistan Customs then marks on the same form whether it gave the lower rate.

The form lists the exporter, consignee, producer, route, each item with its **6-digit HS code**, the invoice number and the **origin criterion**. Goods qualify if they are wholly made in China, or if materials from outside the FTA or of unknown origin are **less than 60%** of the FOB value and the last process happened in China. Some goods follow product-specific rules instead.

Ask your supplier for this certificate when you agree the order. Without it, you can't claim the FTA rate.

**More guides:** [How to start an import export business](/business/guides/how-to-start-import-export-business/) · [Importing construction machinery from Japan](/business/guides/import-construction-machinery-japan/) · [Car import rules](/business/guides/car-import-pakistan/) · [Import & Export](/business/import-export/)

## Questions people ask

### Is import duty lower on goods from China?

For many goods, yes. Under Phase II of the Pakistan-China FTA (S.R.O. 1640(I)/2019), duty on 3,251 tariff lines went to zero from 1 January 2020 and others are cut over up to 15 years, but about a quarter of tariff lines are protected. You need a China-Pakistan FTA certificate of origin to claim the lower rate.

### Can I import from China to Pakistan by road?

Yes, through the Khunjerab Pass and the Sost dry port in Gilgit-Baltistan. The border traditionally closes on 30 November for the winter, though it stayed open in winter 2024-25.

### Does Alibaba deliver to Pakistan?

Goods you order on Alibaba still clear Pakistan Customs, and you pay duty here. Alibaba's Trade Assurance holds your payment in escrow and lets you claim a refund within 30 days of delivery.

### Do I need a licence to import from China?

There is no general import licence. Under the Import Policy Order, 2022 you can import from anywhere unless the goods are banned or restricted, but you need an NTN and a PSW subscription (Rs 500) to clear goods.

## Sources

- [FBR issues SRO to launch Phase-II of Pak-China FTA](https://www.fbr.gov.pk/pr/fbr-issues-sro-to-launch-phase-ii-of-pak-chin/132214), FBR (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Certificate of Origin, China-Pakistan FTA, with instructions](https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2010-11/26/5723351/files/19bf9a3654cc45e6a501d6bdc1713129.doc), Government of China (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Import Policy Order, 2022 (S.R.O. 545(I)/2022)](https://icci.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Import-Policy-Order-2022.pdf), Ministry of Commerce (copy hosted by ICCI) (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [PSW Subscription](https://psw.gov.pk/subscription), Pakistan Single Window (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [Elimination of EIF and EFE](https://psw.gov.pk/elimination-of-eif-efe), Pakistan Single Window (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [Foreign Exchange Manual, Chapter 13: imports](https://web.archive.org/web/20240330012406/http://www.sbp.org.pk/fe_manual/pdf/2018/Chapter-13.pdf), State Bank of Pakistan (archived copy) (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [Schedule of bank charges, July-December 2026](https://www.mcb.com.pk/assets/documents/SOBC-July-December-2026-English.pdf), MCB Bank (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [EPD Circular Letter No. 01 of 2024: advance payment for import of goods](https://www.sbp.org.pk/epd/2024/FECL1.htm), State Bank of Pakistan (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [Customs Act, 1969](https://download1.fbr.gov.pk/Docs/20268241784853463Customs-Act-1969.pdf), FBR (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
- [China-Pakistan FTA Phase-II: reduced tariffs, new safeguard measures](https://www.china-briefing.com/news/china-pakistan-fta-phase-2-reduced-tariffs-safeguard-measures-introduced/), China Briefing (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Trade Assurance protects your Alibaba.com orders](https://tradeassurance.alibaba.com/), Alibaba.com (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Money-back policy, Trade Assurance](https://tradeassurance.alibaba.com/lp/buyer/ta/MoneyBackPolicy.htm), Alibaba.com (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Pakistan, China to keep Khunjerab-Sost border open in winter for the first time](https://nukta.com/pakistan-china-to-keep-khunjerab-sost-border-open-in-winter-for-the-first-time), Nukta (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Ahsan directs NLC to prioritize expansion of Sost Dry Port](https://radio.gov.pk/28-07-2026/ahsan-directs-nlc-to-prioritize-expansion-of-sost-dry-port), Radio Pakistan (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Pakistan's trade deficit with neighbours widens to $16bn](https://www.qatar-tribune.com/article/245542/business/pakistans-trade-deficit-with-neighbours-widens-to-16-bn/amp), Qatar Tribune (SBP data) (accessed 18 Oct 2026)