Form-E and export documents: a checklist for Pakistani exporters

Clean paperwork is what turns a shipment into a payment. These are the documents most commercial exports from Pakistan rely on.

Core export documents

• Commercial invoice and packing list.
• Bill of lading (sea) or airway bill (air).
• Form-E: filed through your authorised dealer bank to record the expected export proceeds. It is needed for most commercial exports before the export GD is filed.
• Export GD filed in WeBOC by your customs agent.
• Certificate of origin issued through your chamber of commerce where the buyer requires it.
• Product-specific certificates (for example phytosanitary or quality certificates) when required.

If payment is by letter of credit

Read the LC terms before you ship. Names, amounts, descriptions, ports and dates must match the LC exactly. A small mismatch is the most common reason banks refuse documents.

Habits that prevent discrepancies

• Use one master data sheet for invoice, packing list and shipping instructions.
• Check documents against the LC or contract before the cargo leaves.
• Keep copies of everything, including bank acknowledgements.
• Realise export proceeds within the time allowed by State Bank of Pakistan rules.