Last reviewed: 2026-09-17
Pakistan Post International Tracking: Overseas Mail & Customs Guide
International mail passes between Pakistan Post, the postal service of another country and customs officers. This guide explains how tracking works for parcels coming in and going out, why some items show more updates than others and what customs checks mean for you.
Types of International Mail
Pakistan Post sends and receives international mail under Universal Postal Union (UPU) rules. How much tracking you get depends on the service the sender chose:
Light documents and goods under 2 kg, sent with a registration barcode (usually starting with ’R’). The receiver signs for them.
Heavier parcels, usually with a barcode starting with ’C’ (such as CP). They can go by air or by land and sea.
The fast express service, with barcodes usually starting with ’E’.
Exchange Offices: Where Mail Enters and Leaves
Mail going in or out of Pakistan passes through special offices, called offices of exchange. We could not confirm where each one is. They do two main jobs:
Incoming Mail
Mail bags from abroad are received, opened and each item’s barcode is scanned into the Pakistan Post system. This is usually when an incoming item first shows on ep.gov.pk in Pakistan.
Outgoing Mail
Parcels booked at post offices are sent to an exchange office, where they are grouped into mail bags for each destination country.
Customs Checks and Duty
Every parcel crossing the border can be checked by customs. How quickly this happens affects how fast your parcel moves:
Parcels may be scanned. Items with clear CN22 or CN23 customs forms and nothing to pay are usually passed and sent on for delivery.
If customs needs to value the goods, charge duty or check permits, the parcel is held until this is done.
Paying customs duty: We could not confirm exactly how duty is collected in every case. If you receive a notice, take it and your CNIC to your local delivery post office and ask what is due.
Why Some Parcels Show Fewer Updates
Some international parcels show many updates, while others show none for days. Common reasons are:
- Inter-Postal Data Synchronization: Updates depend on how quickly each country’s postal service shares scans. Some countries share updates more slowly.
- International Transport Interval: While a parcel is on a flight or waiting at an airport, there are no scans until it arrives.
- Unregistered Mail Streams: Ordinary airmail letters without a 13-character barcode cannot be tracked online. Only registered items, with a receipt, show tracking updates.
What to Check Before Calling Customer Care
Before you contact Pakistan Post about an international parcel, go through these steps:
- Verify Both Portals: Check your tracking number on
ep.gov.pkand on the postal tracking website of the other country. - Confirm Barcode Format: Make sure your number has 13 characters: 2 letters, 9 digits and a 2-letter country code.
- Check for Delivery Intimations: If tracking shows ’Notice Issued’ or ’Unsuccessful Attempt’, look for a paper slip at your address or visit your local post office.
- Understand Bilateral Handover: Once a parcel leaves Pakistan, the postal service of the destination country delivers it. The receiver should ask their local post office, using the same 13-character number.
- Prepare Transaction Proof: Have your booking receipt, invoice details and the receiver’s address ready when you speak to staff at the post office where you booked.