Door-to-door from Dubai to your city in Pakistan
Moving your household from Dubai back to Pakistan is a big step, and it is much easier when one team handles the whole chain: a survey of what you are taking, careful packing in Dubai, shipping by sea or air, customs clearance in Pakistan and delivery to your home.
SmileShift moves households from Dubai door to door to Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Gujranwala. If your destination is another city, send us the details and we will confirm what is possible.
Sea cargo or air cargo?
Sea freight is the usual choice for furniture, appliances and a full home's contents, and it is generally the most economical way to move a large volume. It takes longer than air, so plan the first weeks with a suitcase or a small air shipment.
Air freight suits a few cartons you need quickly: clothes, documents, children's essentials and work equipment. Many families combine the two. During the survey we help you decide what goes by air and what can follow by sea, and we confirm the estimated timeline for your city with your quote.
Pakistan customs: rules for returning residents
Pakistan's Baggage Rules, 2006, published by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), include transfer of residence provisions for Pakistani nationals returning after living abroad for two years or more. Used household goods such as furniture, crockery, kitchen utensils, carpets, linen and bedding can come in under these provisions.
Certain appliances are treated differently. Under the rules, a returning resident can bring one unit each of items such as a television, refrigerator, deep freezer, washing machine, microwave, cooking range and air conditioner at a reduced rate of duty and taxes rather than fully duty-free. Goods in commercial quantities are not covered.
Your household shipment is unaccompanied baggage and must be declared and linked to your own arrival in Pakistan, so time it with your travel. Rules and allowances change, so always check the latest FBR guidance before you ship. We will tell you which documents we need from you on the Dubai side.
Packing for the journey
Your belongings are handled several times on the way, so they are packed for the journey: furniture wrapped and padded, fragile items cushioned, and every carton labelled and listed on an inventory that customs and the delivery team can follow.
Clean and fully dry appliances before packing, especially fridges and washing machines, to avoid damp and odour in transit.
What to ship, store or sell
Go room by room and decide what is worth shipping. Good-quality furniture, personal items and things with sentimental value are usually worth taking. Some appliances attract duty, so compare that with buying new locally.
If you are not ready to ship everything at once, you can keep some items in storage in Dubai and send them later.
A simple timeline
Six to eight weeks before you leave: book a survey, get your quote and choose sea, air or both. Three to four weeks before: confirm your packing date and gather your documents. One to two weeks before: pack-up day, then your shipment leaves Dubai. After you arrive in Pakistan: customs clearance, then delivery to your home in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad or Gujranwala.
Send us your Dubai area, destination city and preferred move date on WhatsApp at +971 54 766 7436, and we will arrange a survey and a clear, itemised quote.
