u/NoReality560

I’m trying to understand how importing from China works, especially since this is my first time sourcing directly from 1688 without a middleman.

I’ve heard that as a foreign buyer, you don’t have to pay the 13% VAT if the goods are being exported. But at the same time, I know I’ll need proper invoices to stay compliant with Amazon.

My main questions are:

If the supplier doesn’t have experience with exports, how do I actually avoid paying that VAT in practice

Would it make sense to use a sourcing or export agent in this case? For example, can they help structure things properly and save costs (even after taking their cut)

How do I make sure I still get valid invoices and documents that work for Amazon?

Just trying to understand the right way to handle this without running into issues or paying unnecessary costs. Chinese factories on ali baba just feel like amazon 2.0 selling 2 dollar product for 4

I’m currently doing my A Levels and will be applying to universities soon. I live in Faisalabad and most likely will attend the Chiniot campus of FAST (NUCES), since other universities here don’t have as strong a reputation.

I’m very confused about whether pursuing tech—especially Software Engineering—is still a good path long-term. By the time I graduate (around 2030), will SWE still be worth it? I often hear that entry-level jobs are getting harder and that AI is changing the field.

Another concern is that I’m someone who has always been good at getting grades but hasn’t built any real practical skills yet. I’m worried that this might become a problem in a field like tech where skills matter more than academics.

I also cannot leave my city, so I want to understand realistically:

Are people actually able to get remote software jobs from cities like Faisalabad?

Freelancing and Upwork or fiverr are also becoming dead they are not source of predicatble income. People who are able to get clients off platform mostly they get clients which pay them monthly retainers.

I see people younger than me online claiming to build AI agencies and make money, which motivates that I should go in tech. At the same time, I don’t think I can spend this summer learning those skills because I need to focus on entry test preparation. After that, FAST has a reputation for being very demanding (“ragra”), so I’m concerned I won’t have time to build practical skills during university either.

FAST also offers a Fintech degree, which combines CS and business. From what I’ve heard, graduates often go into roles like data analysts or financial engineers They can also become SWE go into machine learning and stuff.

So my main questions are:

1. Is pursuing tech still worth it for someone graduating around 2030?
2. How realistic is it to get remote work or freelance opportunities from a smaller city?
3. Given FAST’s workload, how do students realistically build practical skills alongside their degree?

I’d really appreciate advice from people who have gone through a similar path or are currently working in the industry.

Remember there was a time, few years ago chinese factories were all over the internet telling which brands they made products for are these videos still on the internet. Did anybody of you found them useful or have saved them.

Today I went to FAST chiniot faislabad campus to check the uni. There I met a person he said he worked in admission office for 8 years. Baisically he was telling me about that in busniess related programs. In summer 2.5 months there are cumplusary internships. Can somebody tell me about them in detail. What are the timings of internships ?. How things work ?. What happens if you don't do it. How good really are the internships for you carear. Anyone with knowledge of Fintech program and what are the potential carear paths.

People be scaring me from FAST saying. That the work load is too much you don't get the time to learn practical skills moreover. Is it really worth at the end of the day ?. but I also heard that FAST has a very good job network and that if you have to do job the uni helps alot.

https://preview.redd.it/fux7izjgloxg1.png?width=486&format=png&auto=webp&s=72377f25402ce3ae74fa0ce270a236165feb4d42

This was a very good product at one time now look at it. What the hell would he be macking at selling at 3.84 pounds. Some people just want to ruin the market I think maybe there goal is not to make profits just to ruin the market