5 Mistakes Pakistani Importers Make — and How to Avoid Them

The Big Five

These five common mistakes can quickly turn a profitable shipment into a costly nightmare.

1. Guessing HS Codes: Misclassifying your goods can lead to incorrect duty and tax payments, and even trigger a customs audit, causing significant delays and fines.
2. Late Delivery Order (DO) & Duty Payment: Failing to pay duties or get the DO released on time is a primary cause of demurrage and detention (D&D) charges, which can quickly destroy your margins.
3. Underestimating Packaging: Inadequate or fragile packaging can result in damaged goods, leading to expensive claims and dissatisfied customers.
4. No Trucking Plan: A lack of a pre-arranged trucking plan means you can’t pick up the container in time, causing it to slip past its free time and incur more D&D charges.
5. Ignoring Incoterms: Misunderstanding your responsibilities under Incoterms can lead to unexpected and hidden costs, as well as disputes over who is responsible for which part of the journey.

The Fix — A Simple Pre-Arrival Checklist

A little planning goes a long way. Use this checklist to ensure your shipment is prepared for a smooth clearance process:

• Vetted Documents: Ensure all proforma documents, including the invoice, packing list, HS code, and Certificate of Origin (COO), have been carefully reviewed.
• D&D Confirmation: Confirm the number of D&D free days and proactively request extensions if you anticipate any delays.
• Trucking Plan: Book your trucking service in advance and have a backup carrier on standby.
• Insurance: Confirm your insurance is in place and understand the claims process in case of damage.
• Communication: Set up a clear communication plan with all parties via WhatsApp or email for real-time updates.

How UTradeShipping Keeps You Safe

We provide the tools and expertise to help you avoid these mistakes:

• We give you document templates and perform pre-checks to catch errors early.
• We use milestone tracking to keep you informed at every stage.
• Our dedicated human operations manager is always available to resolve issues in real-time, so you don’t have to navigate these complexities alone.