Why Pakistani Courier Tracking Stops Updating
You're watching your parcel's tracking status and it hasn't changed in hours — or even days. Before panicking, it helps to understand how Pakistani courier tracking actually works.
How Courier Tracking Works in Pakistan
Pakistani couriers update tracking at physical scan events — not in real time. A scan happens when a barcode is scanned by a courier employee at a specific point:
- Booking counter (origin city)
- Departure hub scan (before loading)
- Arrival hub scan (destination city)
- Branch delivery scan (when assigned to a rider)
- Delivery attempt or delivered scan
Between these five points, tracking goes silent. This is by design — there is no GPS tracking on individual parcels in transit. A 12–36 hour gap between scans during intercity transport is completely normal.
Normal vs Abnormal Tracking Gaps
| Situation | Gap Duration | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Just booked, no scan yet | 0–4 hours | Normal — riders batch-scan at pickup |
| In transit between cities | 12–36 hours | Normal — on truck or aircraft |
| Peak season (Eid, 11.11) | Up to 72 hours | Normal — hub backlog |
| No update for 3–5 days | 3–5 days | Investigate — call helpline |
| No update for 7+ days | 7+ days | File formal complaint |
Courier-Specific Tracking Notes
TCS Express
TCS uses the most comprehensive scan network. If your tracking shows no update for more than 48 hours outside of peak periods, it's worth calling. Their SMS tracking (send CN number to 9852) can sometimes show status before the website updates.
Leopards Courier
Leopards' tracking system refreshes throughout the day but may lag 2–4 hours behind physical scans. If status shows "In Transit" for more than 3 days on a domestic route, call 0800-00100 and ask for a trace.
M&P Express
M&P's tracking portal is available at mulphilog.com. SMS tracking to 8111 can sometimes be faster than the web portal. For remote-area deliveries, gaps of 48–72 hours between scans are common.
PostEx
PostEx sends automated WhatsApp and SMS notifications. If notifications have stopped but the parcel isn't delivered, the rider may have had trouble reaching the address. Contact PostEx via their website or ask the seller to query from the merchant dashboard.
Trax
Trax has one of the more modern tracking APIs, with updates appearing within 1–2 hours of a scan. Their customer support at 021-111-118-729 is generally responsive to trace requests.
What To Do If Tracking Hasn't Updated
- Wait 48 hours from the last update (or 72 hours during peak seasons)
- Check tracking again on Track My Order — status may have updated since you last checked
- Call the courier helpline with your tracking number (see table in our stuck in transit guide)
- If you're the buyer, contact the seller to raise a trace from their merchant account
- File a formal complaint after 7 business days of no movement
