Cargo from Dubai to KarachiCargo from Dubai to Karachi, by air and by sea.
Airlift Logistics, a freight forwarder in Dubai Airport Free Zone, moves cargo from Dubai to Karachi for importers and traders. We fly consignments from DXB to Jinnah International (KHI), and book FCL or LCL from Jebel Ali to the container terminals at Karachi Port and to Qasim International Container Terminal at Port Qasim. We match your export papers to the declaration your Karachi clearing agent files with the Collectorates of Customs.
Business cargo only. Airlift Logistics ships commercial goods for importers, exporters, traders and manufacturers, with a commercial invoice and a registered consignee. We do not handle personal boxes, household effects or door-to-door parcels.
Dubai to Karachi at a glance
Karachi is where most sea cargo for Pakistan first lands. It has an international airport, three container terminals at Karachi Port and another at Port Qasim, so the choice of gateway matters more here than in most cities.
- Flight time
- About 2 h DXB to Karachi
- Air cargo
- Jinnah International, KHI
- Sea gateways
- Karachi Port and Port Qasim
- Customs
- Karachi collectorates, FBR
Karachi airport, Karachi Port and Port Qasim
Ask your Karachi clearing agent which terminal the shipping line will discharge at before you fix delivery plans. Terminal, not city, decides the storage tariff and the customs office.
| Gateway | Type | Code | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport | KHI | Pakistan's busiest cargo airport, with a dedicated cargo terminal area | |
| Container terminal | Karachi Port | Karachi International Container Terminal, run by Hutchison Ports | |
| Container terminal | Karachi Port | Pakistan International Container Terminal, on Karachi Port Trust land | |
| Container terminal | Port Qasim | Qasim International Container Terminal, operated by DP World | |
| Dry port | Pakistan Railways | Rail-linked inland depot in Karachi for containers moving on by train |
Air or sea into Karachi
Karachi is the one Pakistani city that suits both air and sea without a long inland leg.
| Mode | Route | Typical timing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| DXB to KHI | Same or next day, plus clearance | Spare parts, samples, urgent stock | |
| Sea freight FCL | Jebel Ali to Karachi Port or Port Qasim | Roughly 4 to 8 days port to port | Full containers of trading goods |
| Sea freight LCL | Jebel Ali consolidation to Karachi | Roughly 1 to 2 weeks with consolidation | Smaller loads from about 1 CBM |
Airlines flying direct from Dubai to Karachi
- Emirates SkyCargo
- flydubai
- Pakistan International Airlines
- Airblue
Sea transit depends on the service and on port congestion, so treat these as ranges, not promises. Work out the billed weight with our chargeable weight calculator or the CBM calculator.
Clearance at Karachi collectorates
Clearance in Karachi is done by your importer's clearing agent. The collectorate that handles the goods depends on the terminal where they are discharged.
| Item | In Karachi |
|---|---|
| Karachi Port cargo | Collectorates of Customs Appraisement (East) and (West), Karachi, under the Federal Board of Revenue |
| Port Qasim cargo | Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) at Port Muhammad Bin Qasim |
| Terminal storage | Free days and demurrage are set by the terminal operator and shipping line, not by customs |
| Delivery out of the port | Gate pass after duty payment and a delivery order from the line; trucks collect at the terminal gate |
| National rules | Pakistan import rules and duty |
Jurisdiction of each collectorate is set by FBR notification and has changed before. Your agent confirms the current office for your terminal.
Karachi terminal points to plan for
These are local planning points for Karachi, separate from the national approvals on the Pakistan page.
- 01
Containers incur storage charges after the free period. Book your clearing agent before the vessel arrives.
- 02
Port to warehouse trucking
Container trucks move to Karachi industrial areas or on to upcountry cities. Agree the haulier before arrival.
- 03
Bonded storage
Goods that are not cleared at once can wait in bonded space while the importer sorts out duty.
- 04
Air consignments at KHI should be cleared promptly. Unclaimed cargo builds storage charges at the cargo terminal.
- 05
Karachi Port is closer to the city centre. Port Qasim suits buyers in the eastern industrial belt.
- 06
The terminal releases nothing without the shipping line's delivery order. Delays here hold up the whole chain.
Paperwork for Karachi deliveries
Send these with your booking. For Karachi the delivery order and the Goods Declaration decide how fast the truck can leave the terminal.
| Document | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Customs value; must match the Goods Declaration | |
| Packing list | Cartons, weights and marks for the terminal examination |
| Bill of lading or air waybill | Transport contract; the line issues the delivery order against it |
| Issued by the shipping line; releases the container at the terminal | |
| Filed by your agent; the collectorate assesses duty on it |
Restricted or banned in Karachi
- Goods banned under the Import Policy Order
- Narcotics
- Counterfeit goods
- Used goods outside age limits
- Goods without required approvals
Airlift Logistics handles business cargo only, not personal boxes or household effects. If you want a quote for a few boxes sent to a family address, we are not the right forwarder.
Cargo Karachi buyers order from Dubai
Karachi importers buy mainly goods for the city's port-side industry and its large wholesale markets.
- 01
Textile and garment inputs
Dyes, trims and machine parts for Karachi's textile and garment factories.
- 02
Wholesale and retail stock
Electronics, household goods and consumer items for Karachi's wholesale markets.
- 03
Industrial supplies
Packaging materials, chemicals and spare parts for plants around the port areas.
Dubai to Karachi shipping questions, answered
Last updated ·
See all shipping questionsGet a quote for this laneIt depends on the shipping line. Lines call at KICT, PICT or Qasim International Container Terminal at Port Qasim. We confirm the terminal on the booking. The terminal sets storage tariffs and decides which customs collectorate handles clearance for your Karachi buyer.
- Ask the line for the terminal name.
- Pass it to your clearing agent early.
It depends on where the buyer is. Karachi Port is closer to the city centre and the wholesale markets. Port Qasim, to the east, suits factories in the eastern industrial belt. Clearance runs through different collectorates, so your agent should be registered for the right office.
- Compare trucking cost, not only freight.
- Port Qasim has its own customs collectorate.
Yes, to Jinnah International (KHI). We book space on direct flights from DXB and prepare the export papers in Dubai. Your Karachi agent clears the goods at the cargo terminal. Collect promptly, since storage charges apply to cargo left at the airport.
- Business cargo only, no personal boxes.
- Send the invoice and packing list with the booking.
No. Airlift Logistics handles business cargo only, such as trading stock, spare parts and materials for companies. We do not accept personal boxes, household goods or gifts for families. A courier or a personal cargo service suits those better than a freight forwarder.
- We need a company as consignee.
- Commercial invoice required.