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Moving to Lahore soon. Need info please

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MoenHassan
  5/10/2010 17:56 EST

Hi All,
We (Myself, wife, and a 16 months old daughter)are moving from London to Lahore soonish. Would like to get in touch with others who have already moved or are planning to move soon please.
My wife and the little one have been there a few times already but never in the summer so far!! But I intend to go there first and sort out the AC etc.
We are currently looking for a suitable shipping company that can take our household items there. It would be really helpful if others can advice about what to take, and how, and who to use etc.
Many thanks.

res123
  5/12/2010 19:54 EST

I am seeing more and more that people from UK tend to be moving back to Pakistan, quite contrary to the Pakistani-American community. Is there any particular reason, why that is so?

JUST CURIOUS!!!

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MoenHassan
  5/13/2010 06:33 EST

HI res123,
Could be many reasons I guess including the financial reasons, family reasons, personal preferences etc. For me, I am moving because I am InshAllah starting a new job there soon and the amount of savings I could have is more than here. Also I have a lot of family there too. I think every place has its good and bad things about it, and depending on the personal and financial circumstances, one place may work out better than the other for a particular person. Apart from that, it is where I am from (Lahore, Pakistan) so I feel at home when I spend approx a month there every year for the last 10 years or so.
Are you planning to move to Pakistan too :) ?

fareed1
  5/21/2010 08:44 EST

Hello
regarding shipping stuff to pak its better to do your research on what you can take as personnal use(especially electrical goods) as they can be liable for heavy taxes at port. some old used goods are not taxable. but we think its probably better to buy most of your stuff from there as it works out cheaper and you can take it back!
also the shipping lines tend to charge per sq meter, and you have to arrange a agent at port to release your goods and then have arrangements to get them to your house.
the best frieght line are the asian ones that have links with customs such as MARCO, but they are based in manchester.
The pakistani embassy in london will have some info on duties and frieght lines.

MoenHassan
  5/21/2010 20:44 EST

HI fareed1,
many thanks for the advice.
Seems like we will be moving in July.
i see that you are moving too. Have you found a shipping company or are you not using one (just taking smaller luggage instead)?
Thanks again.

MoenHassan
  5/22/2010 20:21 EST

Also does any one know how to apply for "Transfer of Residence" ? I have been googling it but can not find instructions for applying in the UK.
Many thanks,
MH

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salik
  6/1/2010 02:13 EST

i strongly advice dont ship none of your household items here

i moved here last year and took me 4 months to get my shipemnt released it was a nightmare and cost me a bomb

MoenHassan
  6/1/2010 07:03 EST

Hi salik,
Thanks for the message. A few questions to clarify please:

Where did you move to?
Which shipping company did you use?
Which clearing agent (name) did you use?
What happened I mean why it took such a long time?
Also did you get taxed on any of the items?

It would help me a lot if you could please let me know.

Many thanks,
Moen.

HeatherMC
  6/1/2010 08:50 EST

I'm an American who spent three years in Lahore from 2006-2009. Unfortunately I've only heard bad things about shipping things to Pakistan.

I shipped a few things from Thailand via Thai Airways straight to the airport. With a clearing agent, it took me two days and more money than the stuff was worth to get it "cleared." It was an extremely stressful process. The problem was not with the shipping company, but with the customs process. This will be similar whether you ship it by air or by sea.

One of our acquaintances also attempted to ship a vehicle by cargo ship from Karachi. It cost him over $2000 just to get the vehicle on the boat (through customs) and that was WITH a Pakistani agent and a Pakistani friend.

You can buy most things in Pakistan. It's probably a lot less stressful to just buy what you need or get it made (custom made furniture is typical, although not always the best quality) in Pakistan.

Best,

Heather

www.expatheather.com

salik
  6/1/2010 09:12 EST

i moved too lahore and used a friend of mine
basically the problem wasnt the shipping company its the way things get done in pakistan
i had to spend a whole week in karachi to get the stuff released and bribe the main man at the shipping port you just cant get things done straight here sorry too say unless you have contacts

MoenHassan
  6/1/2010 11:24 EST

Thank you all for replying. I am beginning to understand the process.
The quote we have says door (from our home) to Lahore port. Does it still mean that the customs clearance will take place in Karachi?

Also can someone please tell me what sort of volumes you shipped, what sort of items, and what sort of money did the different stages cost, including the reshwat bit??

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HeatherMC
  6/1/2010 11:55 EST

You can read more about the process of shipping things OUT of the Karachi port here:

http://heathercarreiro.blogspot.com/2009/02/customs-at-karachi-port-5-day-process.html

Customs is just as confusing and corrupt in either direction, so this should give you a feel for the bureaucracy involved.

When I shipped things to Pakistan, it was only a hand-luggage sized suitcase full of personal items, mostly clothes, a few pairs of old shoes and souvenirs. I did too much shopping in Bangkok, took the new clothes with me in my suitcase and shipped the old stuff.

Here is an article detailing the process:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1409471/cargo_pickup_customs_clearance_at_lahore.html?cat=17

adamg
  6/2/2010 03:58 EST

Hi we are also moving to lahore from uk .we have 3 kids i am going end of june to set up find house to rent and set it up kids and wife will follow afterwards I have been looking into shipping best I found so far is ist movers.Only issue is duty at customs trying to get more info.

MoenHassan
  6/2/2010 08:39 EST

Hi Adamg,
Yes thats what I am going to do too. I am going a bit later than you in July though. I will setup the house with AC, repair the windows etc, and then wife and daughter will follow.

I am sending you a PM !!
Regards,
Moen.

zawar
  6/18/2010 15:38 EST

Because Pakistanis in the USA just came over. It takes a whole generation or 2 of living abroad to realize the value of Pakistan. Most Pakistanis think I'm crazy for moving back and give me all the financial reasons for staying in the USA. In about 30 years they will wish they had made their money and gone back as well. Thats how long it took my family.

sweet
  7/8/2010 07:45 EST

A.A, hru mr. moen?

I have read your comments and reqesuted informations.

Well, I just can say that i have not seen much of the people fimilier with pakistan customs and its process who commented against your inquiry.

All i can say, it is rather difficult to bring huge stuff to pakistan from Uk especially when you are brining that stuff through SEA, it will take long time but it will reach you safe and sound condition.

All you need is to discuss with any shipping forwarder, and tell him about your stuff and also tell him you wont get pain so everything has to be done by him,

Also inform him that you will not involve in any tex related activities so he will hire clearing agent who will get cleared the goods via customs.

But most important thing is, while talking with shipping forwarder please let him know that you will not pay anything except decided amount, it means you have to talk and finalize a LUM SUM Amount from UK to direct your home,

So in this way you wont face any trouble hopefully and all your stuff will be reached in Lahore in sound condition.

Anything else you want to know please email me.

B, Rgds

Sweet Capricorn.

lahore

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