This guide is the operating checklist we recommend before you spend on a first shipment: pick a product, vet suppliers, model landed cost, ship with clean documents, clear customs, then sell with numbers, not guesses.
Pick a product with real Pakistan demand, clear unit economics, and a weight/size you can ship profitably.
Goal: choose one SKU you can sell repeatedly, not a random Alibaba “hot deal.” Checklist 1. Scan Daraz bestsellers, Facebook/TikTok commerce, and our Trending Products for under-2kg items with a clear use case (phone accessories, kitchen gadgets, beauty tools, LED products). 2. Write down competitor selling prices (low / mid / high) and your target retail price. 3. Estimate landed cost early: product + freight + duty + 18% sales tax + marketplace fees. 4. Run the Profit Calculator. If net margin after fees is under ~25–30%, pick another SKU or renegotiate cost. 5. Avoid overcrowded categories unless you have a real edge (better quality, bundle, private label, or lower landed cost). Output before moving on: one product name, target selling price, and a rough landed-cost range in PKR.
Shortlist real factories or agents, order samples, and verify paperwork before any bulk payment.
Goal: 1–2 trustworthy suppliers, not 20 unread WhatsApp chats. Where to source - Alibaba.com: Trade Assurance, English chat, good for first imports - 1688.com: often cheaper factory pricing; usually needs a sourcing agent - Our Supplier Directory: admin-vetted intros and category listings Vetting steps 1. Shortlist 5–10 suppliers. Ask MOQ, lead time, sample cost, packaging, and EXW/FOB price. 2. Order samples from your top 3. Never skip samples for a first import. 3. Check business license, years on platform, response quality, and real review photos. 4. Confirm they can provide commercial invoice + packing list matching your product description. 5. Prefer suppliers who answer clearly about HS-style product description and carton size/weight. Red flags: pressure to pay full amount outside platform, no samples, vague factory address, or copied catalog photos only.
Model CIF, duty, sales tax, shipping mode, and a FX buffer before you lock the PO.
Formula (planning) Landed cost ≈ CIF (product + international freight + insurance) + customs duty + sales tax (typically 18% on CIF + duty) + clearance/agent fees + local transport. Do this with tools 1. Convert invoice currency with the Currency Converter (USD/CNY → PKR). 2. Estimate freight with the Shipping Cost Calculator (air vs sea vs express). 3. Estimate duty and sales tax with the China Import Tax Calculator. 4. Roll everything into the Landed Cost Calculator, then price with the Product Pricing tool. Planning tips - Sea usually wins above ~100 kg; air for samples and high-margin small goods - Keep a 10–15% buffer for USD/PKR moves and unexpected port charges - Duty depends on HS code, wrong classification can inflate cost or delay clearance Output: per-unit landed cost in PKR and a break-even selling price after platform fees.
Negotiate terms, confirm Incoterms, and lock documents before the goods leave China.
After samples pass QC 1. Negotiate payment (common: 30% deposit / 70% before shipment on Alibaba). 2. Confirm Incoterms: FOB, CIF, or DAP changes who pays freight and insurance. 3. Get written confirmation of quantity, packaging, carton dimensions, gross weight, and ship date. 4. Choose mode: sea to Karachi/Port Qasim (~25–40 days), air (~5–10 days), express for small samples. 5. Collect documents before sailing: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill. QC tip: for larger first orders, photo/video carton packing or a third-party inspection reduces expensive surprises at arrival.
File the Goods Declaration with a licensed agent, pay duty correctly, and avoid demurrage.
Entry points - Sea: Karachi / Port Qasim - Air: major airports (Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi) What you need 1. Commercial invoice and packing list that match the shipment 2. Bill of lading or airway bill 3. NTN / business identity used for import 4. Any product-specific certificates (if required for your category) 5. A licensed customs agent to file the GD and coordinate with the terminal Process notes - Duty rate follows HS classification; discuss the code with your agent before arrival - Budget roughly 3–7 days after arrival for clearance (varies by port load and paperwork quality) - Containers that sit too long attract demurrage. Have money and documents ready If you are a personal traveler bringing phones, that is a separate PTA DIRBS path, not commercial cargo clearance.
Launch on Daraz or your own store, track unit economics weekly, and only scale winners.
Launch 1. List on Daraz for built-in traffic, or Shopify/social for higher margin and customer ownership. 2. Use clear photos, accurate titles, and honest specs. Underpromise shipping times you can keep. 3. Start ads only after you know contribution margin after fees and returns. Weekly metrics - COGS / landed cost per unit - Platform fees and payment fees - Return rate and ad spend - Net profit per unit and sell-through speed Scale rules - Reinvest into SKUs with healthy net margin after all costs - Increase reorder size only after the previous batch sold most stock in a sensible window (many sellers use ~60 days as a checkpoint) - Consider private label once one product proves repeatable Use the Daraz Profit Calculator and Business Investment Calculator before your next larger PO.
Use our free tools to estimate duties, shipping, and total landed cost.