Import and export management in Pakistan: LCs, PSW goods declarations and true landed cost

Importers often know the supplier price but not the true cost of goods on the shelf. Here is how to run LCs, clearance, PSW goods declarations and landed cost in one system, and why it changes your pricing.

An import is not finished when the goods arrive. LC margin and bank charges, freight, insurance, customs duty, regulatory duty, additional customs duty, sales tax and income tax all land on the cost of each item. If those costs sit in different files, your selling prices are guesses.

Contracts and proformas

Start every deal with a purchase contract (import), a sales contract (export) or an indent where you earn a commission, recording the currency, Incoterm, payment term and goods. Payment terms may be LC at sight or usance, advance TT, CAD or open account.

The LC register

Track each letter of credit from draft to opening with issuing bank, amount, expiry and latest shipment date. Record margin, bank charges and amendments, and tick off documents as they arrive. A dashboard tile for LCs expiring in the next 30 days prevents costly surprises.

Shipments

Sea, air or road shipments with B/L or AWB, vessel, ports, ETD and ETA, freight, insurance and containers, moving from booked to delivered, give everyone the same view of where goods are.

Customs clearance and duties

At clearance, enter the GD number and assessed values. Duties (CD, RD, ACD, sales tax and income tax) can be assessed from each item's HS code rates and adjusted if customs assesses differently. A duty calculator lets you estimate duties for a PCT code before you order.

PSW goods declarations

Goods declarations in Pakistan are filed through Pakistan Single Window (PSW) or WeBOC, usually by a clearing agent. In Hayat, a goods declaration can be built from a customs clearance or export invoice: Hayat fills the declaration, calculates duties from your HS rates and lists anything blocking filing. You can export JSON or XML for your clearing agent, or file through a PSW account where your registration allows API access, then record assessment, channel, examination, PSID and payment up to out-of-charge.

True landed cost

Bringing duties and costs into the landed cost of each import shows the real cost per unit. That number, not the supplier invoice, should drive your selling price and margin reports.

Exports: proceeds and rebates

For exports, issue invoices with a packing list and Form E number, record proceeds realised at the bank's rate and charges, and track rebate and drawback claims, so export realisation is never a mystery.

Reports to watch

• LC position and LCs expiring soon
• Shipments in transit and goods under clearance
• Duty summary and landed cost by import
• Export proceeds pending

See Hayat's import and export workspace at trade.hayaterp.com. Duty rates should always come from official tariffs; Hayat never uses AI to guess them.

Read more about Import & export software in Hayat ERP, or book a demo.

Frequently asked questions