📦 AliExpress Suspends Budget Shipping to Pakistan – July 2025 Update
AliExpress, one of the world's largest online retail marketplaces, has temporarily suspended its budget shipping options to Pakistan as of early July 2025.
This sudden change left thousands of Pakistani shoppers puzzled, especially since everything was working normally just a few days earlier.
According to official sources and seller notifications from AliExpress, the platform has disabled economical shipping routes like AliExpress Standard Shipping and Cainiao for orders headed to Pakistan. This move is reportedly a direct response to new and unclear tax and customs regulations introduced by the Government of Pakistan.
🚫 What Happened?
As of July 7, 2025, AliExpress has removed budget shipping methods for Pakistan-bound orders and issued notifications to sellers. These notices explain that the platform will start processing shipments to Pakistan "offline," meaning that automatic order fulfillment through low-cost shipping services is paused until further notice.
“Due to unclear tax policies and increased scrutiny by Pakistan Customs, AliExpress Standard Shipping and Cainiao will be unavailable for Pakistan starting July 7, 2025.” – AliExpress Seller Notification
This change affects a large number of buyers who relied on these affordable shipping options, often with free or low-cost delivery.
🇵🇰 Why Did AliExpress Suspend Shipping to Pakistan?
The primary reason behind this suspension appears to be stricter customs enforcement and tax changes in Pakistan. Local authorities have recently tightened their grip on under-invoiced or under-declared imports, especially through e-commerce platforms. As a result, platforms like AliExpress are facing difficulty complying with the updated rules and import requirements.
Some key contributing factors include:
- Unclear or evolving customs regulations regarding imported goods
- Concerns about under-declared item values to avoid taxes
- Pressure on international platforms to declare real value of items
- Increased scrutiny on cross-border e-commerce purchases
Until there’s more clarity on these policies, budget-friendly shipping channels are effectively suspended.
📉 What Shipping Options Are Affected?
The following low-cost or free shipping methods have been suspended for Pakistan:
- AliExpress Standard Shipping
- Cainiao Super Economy Global
- Cainiao Standard for Special Goods
- Other economy carriers commonly used by AliExpress sellers
You may still find express courier services available, such as:
- DHL Express
- FedEx
- TNT or UPS (depending on the seller)
However, these services often come with significantly higher costs, sometimes even exceeding the value of the item itself.
🤔 What Can Pakistani Buyers Do Now?
If you're in Pakistan and planning to order from AliExpress, here are some immediate steps and alternatives you can consider:
1. Check for Express Shipping
Although more expensive, some sellers still offer DHL or FedEx options. If your order is valuable or urgent, these can be viable options.
2. Use Package Forwarding Services
Consider using international forwarding services based in countries like the UAE or China that can receive your package and ship it to Pakistan using alternative methods.
3. Wait for Policy Clarification
AliExpress has not permanently banned shipping to Pakistan. It is expected that once the tax issues are resolved, budget shipping will resume.
4. Explore Local Alternatives
Look for the same or similar items on local e-commerce websites like:
- Daraz.pk
- PriceOye.pk
- Telemart.pk
🗣️ Official Statement from AliExpress Sellers
Multiple sellers on AliExpress have shared the following message:
“Shipping to Pakistan will be suspended for all low-cost options starting July 7, 2025. We hope to resume standard shipping after Pakistan Customs clarifies its updated import and tax policies.”
This indicates that the suspension is temporary and conditional on governmental policy updates.
📢 Is This Happening in Other Countries Too?
Yes. According to the latest reports, Sri Lanka is also facing similar restrictions due to tax reforms and stricter customs enforcement. Like Pakistan, budget shipping methods to Sri Lanka are also suspended until further notice.
🔄 Will Budget Shipping Resume?
Most likely, yes—but only after Pakistan provides clearer guidance on its customs policies for international packages. As of now, AliExpress has not given a specific date, but they are monitoring the situation closely.
Buyers are encouraged to stay updated through:
- AliExpress support channels
- Trusted e-commerce news platforms
- Social media groups or forums discussing online shopping in Pakistan
✅ Conclusion
The suspension of budget shipping options to Pakistan by AliExpress in July 2025 is a temporary yet impactful development for thousands of online shoppers. While the decision is rooted in policy complications rather than technical issues, it’s important for users to stay informed and look into viable workarounds.
As the regulatory landscape in Pakistan becomes clearer, there’s hope that AliExpress and similar platforms will resume their full services in the near future.
🔔 Stay Updated
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