01How to read the Friends Home cost table
Plot size is not the same as covered area. The planning totals use typical double-storey covered-area bands and multiply them by current Lahore per-square-foot ranges. A larger lawn, void, terrace or parking area can reduce covered area; a basement, extra floor, heavy structure or elaborate elevation can increase it.
- First freeze the architectural covered area—not only the plot size
- Ask the structural engineer to confirm steel, concrete and foundation quantities
- Compare quotations on identical drawings and specifications
- Keep a contingency reserve instead of treating the upper range as a guaranteed cap
02What grey structure should include
A grey-structure quotation should define excavation, foundation, brickwork, reinforced concrete, roof slabs, internal and external plaster, underground tanks, sewer lines and basic electrical/plumbing conduits. Boundary wall, waterproofing, termite treatment and utility connections are frequently handled differently, so list them explicitly.
- Material brands and strength specifications
- Steel weight and concrete mix documentation
- Waterproofing and termite-treatment scope
- Site supervision, testing and waste responsibility
- Written milestone and measurement method
03What the complete or furnished range means
The complete range in this guide means a habitable house with standard fixed finishes: flooring, doors, windows, sanitary ware, electrical fixtures, kitchen and paint. It does not mean unlimited luxury specification. Imported stone, designer kitchens, premium aluminium, automation, solar, loose furniture, appliances, lift and HVAC should be priced separately.
- Create a room-by-room finishes schedule
- State tile, sanitary, door, window and kitchen allowances
- Separate fixed construction from loose furniture and appliances
- Document substitution and price-escalation rules
04Society and tax costs sit outside the build rate
Bahria Town Lahore, Bahria Orchard, Park View City and other societies may apply drawing approval, security, utility, debris, road-cut, completion or other charges. Plot purchase taxes and transfer fees are also separate from construction cost and depend on the buyer, seller, filer status, declared value and current authority schedule.
- Request the society's current signed construction and approval schedule
- Verify FBR tax treatment for the exact transaction date
- Do not add an old transfer-fee screenshot to a current budget
- Keep land price, transfer/tax and construction as three separate budgets
05Before signing a contractor agreement
Use approved drawings, a bill of quantities, brand schedule, milestone plan, delay terms and a variation process. Pay against measured work and supporting invoices, not only elapsed time. Independent structural and finishing inspections can reduce costly rework.
- Verify contractor identity and completed sites
- Attach drawings, BOQ and brands to the agreement
- Set retention, defect-liability and handover terms
- Record every variation and its cost before execution
Verification notePrepared on 16 August 2026 using Pakistan Bureau of Statistics construction-item price publications and cross-checks against multiple current Lahore contractor and construction-calculator estimates. The table is an FPN planning model, not a contractor quotation. Totals are calculated from the stated covered-area and per-square-foot ranges; actual drawings, soil, structure, brands, labour, authority charges and timing can materially change cost. Information may change after publication; always obtain the latest official document before acting.
