01The estimate starts with covered area, not only five Marla
This Friends Home model assumes a 1,900 sq.ft. double-storey house without a basement. A five-Marla plot can produce a different covered area after society setbacks, parking, voids, terraces, stair design and mumty are finalized. Replace 1,900 with the exact area from approved drawings before using the formula.
- Plot size and covered area are different measurements
- Confirm ground floor, first floor and mumty areas separately
- Do not price a basement at the normal above-ground rate
- Freeze architectural and structural drawings before seeking comparable bids
02Grey structure budget: PKR 55.10 to 66.50 Lakh before reserve
The current cross-check supports a grey-structure planning rate of PKR 2,900–3,500 per covered sq.ft. for an A-category Lahore house. Applied to 1,900 sq.ft., that gives PKR 55.10–66.50 Lakh. A 10% planning reserve moves the working envelope to PKR 60.61–73.15 Lakh, but it is not a guaranteed maximum.
- State steel grade, cement, brick, sand and crush brands or standards
- Define excavation, filling, waterproofing and termite treatment
- Specify tanks, boundary wall, parapet, stairs and roof treatment
- Require engineer inspection before every RCC pour
03Complete house budget: PKR 1.33 to 1.81 Crore before reserve
Avenir's August 2026 turnkey planning range of PKR 7,000–9,500 per sq.ft. produces PKR 1.33–1.81 Crore at 1,900 sq.ft. With the guide's 10% reserve, the planning envelope becomes roughly PKR 1.46–1.99 Crore. The upper and lower cases reflect different finish quality; neither is a universal package.
- Set rupee allowances for tiles, sanitary ware, kitchen and wardrobes
- Name aluminium, glass, doors, paint, wiring and switch specifications
- Separate fixed finishes from furniture, appliances and décor
- Record every substitution and variation price before execution
04Why Zameen's calculator shows a lower complete-build figure
Zameen's calculator, updated 11 August 2026, shows PKR 94.92 Lakh and PKR 4,688 per sq.ft. for its selected five-Marla Lahore assumptions, with separate grey material, finishing material and labour components. That output is useful as a second benchmark, but it should not be presented as identical to a PKR 7,000–9,500 turnkey package because room counts, brands, allowances and scope can differ.
05Costs outside the headline per-square-foot rate
Land, plot transfer, FBR taxes, society drawing approval, construction security, utility connections, road cutting, debris charges, soil tests and professional design/supervision may sit outside a contractor's rate. Solar, HVAC, lift, landscaping, loose furniture and appliances should also remain separate unless specifically included.
- Request the current society construction-charge schedule
- Confirm utility and meter costs at the exact plot
- Budget architect, structural engineer and approval fees
- Keep land and transaction costs separate from the build budget
06Friends Home contractor checklist
Ask at least three contractors to price the same drawings, BOQ and brand schedule. Compare quantities, exclusions, taxes, wastage, supervision and completion time—not only the final per-square-foot number. Pay against measured milestones and retain an agreed amount until defects are corrected.
- Verify identity, registration details and completed reference sites
- Attach the BOQ, drawings and finish schedule to the agreement
- Define payment, delay, escalation, variation and termination clauses
- Use independent structural and finishing inspections
Verification notePrepared on 26 August 2026. FPN cross-checked the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics price-statistics framework, Zameen's Lahore 5 Marla calculator updated 11 August 2026, and Avenir Developments' August 2026 Lahore planning ranges. The sources use different covered areas, specifications and inclusions, so FPN has not blended them into a false single market price. The main model fixes covered area at 1,900 sq.ft. and shows every multiplication. It is a planning estimate, not a contractor quotation. Information may change after publication; always obtain the latest official document before acting.