Pakistan customs rules & duty-free allowances

Last reviewed October 1, 2026·Official source

Pakistan's customs regime is built around a strict red/green channel split, and the green channel is only for travellers with absolutely nothing to declare — walking through it with undeclared goods means seizure plus a penalty, with no option to pay duty on the spot. The biggest trap for visitors is currency: the rupee is tightly capped for both inbound and outbound travellers, and foreign cash above the declaration threshold must be declared on arrival. Enforcement at Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore airports is strict on cash and gold.

Duty-free allowances

Alcohol
1.0 L
Non-Muslim passengers aged 18+ may bring 1 litre of spirits or wine duty-free. Alcohol is a controlled item in Pakistan — declare it; importing more than the allowance is treated as smuggling. Muslims are not permitted the alcohol allowance.
Tobacco
200 cigarettes
or 50 cigars / 250 g
Cash to declare
$10,000
Foreign currency exceeding USD 10,000 (or equivalent, roughly PKR 2.8 million) must be declared to Pakistan Customs on arrival. Local currency: you may carry a maximum of PKR 5,000 in Pakistani rupees in or out — anything above that is seized. Declare on the Customs Declaration Form handed out on the aircraft or at the red channel.
Goods duty-free
$800
Personal effects and gifts up to a value of USD 800 (about PKR 225,000) are duty-free for a non-resident visitor. Above that, regular customs duty applies — rates vary by item, commonly 20–35% plus sales tax, assessed on the spot by the customs officer.

Prohibited — banned from import

  • Narcotics and psychotropic substances (heroin, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines) — penalties include the death sentence
  • Pork and pork products
  • Alcohol beyond the 1-litre personal allowance (treated as smuggling)
  • Counterfeit currency and counterfeit branded goods
  • Obscene material, anti-state literature, and material offensive to Islam
  • Live animals and birds without a valid quarantine permit

Restricted — allowed with a permit or declaration

  • Firearms and ammunition — require a permit issued before arrival
  • Satellite phones and certain radio transceivers — need prior permission from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority
  • Drones — require clearance from the Civil Aviation Authority and are often held at customs
  • Prescription and controlled medicines — doctor's letter required; narcotic-class drugs need Ministry of Narcotics Control approval
  • Plants, seeds, and animal products — must be declared to quarantine

Arriving: red vs green channel

Fill in the Customs Declaration Form given to you on the plane before landing. If you have nothing to declare and are within all allowances, walk through the green channel; if you are carrying anything over the limits, cash above the threshold, or restricted goods, use the red channel and hand the form to the officer. Random baggage screening happens at both channels, and undeclared items found in the green channel are confiscated with a penalty.

Bringing medication

Bring personal prescription medicine in its original labelled packaging with a doctor's letter or prescription; keep quantities to what a personal course of treatment requires. Narcotics, psychotropic drugs, and controlled substances (including codeine-heavy painkillers, strong sedatives, and cannabis-derived products) require prior approval from the Ministry of Narcotics Control and are otherwise treated as prohibited. Some common Western medicines containing controlled ingredients can land you in serious trouble — check before you fly.

Food, plants & animal products

Fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, plants, soil, and most meat and dairy products are restricted or banned to protect local agriculture. Packaged, shelf-stable food for personal use is generally fine in small quantities. Any plant material, seeds, or animal products must be declared to the Plant Protection / Animal Quarantine officer at the airport.

Rules worth knowing

PKR 5,000 cash cap

You may not legally carry more than PKR 5,000 in Pakistani rupees into or out of the country. Foreign currency is fine but must be declared above USD 10,000. This catches out travellers who converted money on a previous trip and try to bring it back.

Gold and jewellery

Personal gold jewellery is allowed for a non-resident within reasonable personal-use limits, but anything beyond that — or gold in bar/coin form — must be declared and is subject to duty. Undeclared gold is one of the most common seizure items at Pakistani airports.

Alcohol is a controlled import

Even within the 1-litre allowance, alcohol must be declared. Non-Muslim travellers are permitted the allowance; attempting to bring in more, or bringing it in without declaring, is treated as smuggling with fines and possible prosecution.

Green channel means nothing to declare

Only use the green channel if you are certain you are within every allowance. If you are over on cash, goods, or tobacco, use the red channel — the penalty for a green-channel seizure is far higher than the duty you would have paid.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, non-Muslim passengers aged 18+ may bring 1 litre of spirits or wine duty-free, but it must be declared. Anything above 1 litre is confiscated and treated as smuggling. Muslims are not permitted the alcohol allowance.
A maximum of PKR 5,000. That is a hard legal limit — not a declaration threshold. Foreign currency is unrestricted up to USD 10,000, above which you must declare it on the Customs Declaration Form.
One laptop, one mobile phone and one camera for personal use are treated as personal effects and do not need declaring. Multiple units of the same device look like commercial import and can attract duty.
The goods are seized and you face a penalty, typically a multiple of the duty owed, plus possible prosecution for high-value or repeat cases. There is no 'pay the duty now' option once you have chosen the green channel.
Reasonable personal jewellery worn or carried for personal use is generally allowed for a non-resident. Gold bars, coins, or quantities that look commercial must be declared and are dutiable. Undeclared gold is routinely seized.
You may take out up to USD 10,000 in foreign currency without declaration; above that you need to declare and show the source. Pakistani rupees are capped at PKR 5,000 outbound, same as inbound.
Yes, in original labelled packaging with a doctor's letter or prescription, limited to personal use. Narcotic or psychotropic medicines need prior approval from the Ministry of Narcotics Control — without it they are treated as prohibited drugs.

Official source

Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue)

For guidance only. Customs allowances and prohibited-item lists change without notice — always confirm with Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue) before travelling.