MEP Basics for House Construction Pakistan 2026

Electrical System

Wire Specifications

Application	Wire Gauge	Load Capacity
Lighting circuits	1.5mm²	10-15 A
5A power sockets	2.5mm²	20-25 A
Heavy appliances (AC, geyser)	4mm²	32 A
Main distribution	6mm²+	50+ A

Brands

Wire: Pakistan Cables, Newage, Fast Cables (copper only, no aluminum)
Distribution Boards: Schneider, ABB, Legrand
Switches: Clipsal (Schneider), MK Pak, Bticino (premium)
Circuit Breakers: Schneider, ABB, Hager. Always include ELCB (residual current device)

Load Calculation (10 Marla)

Typical 10 marla home: 30-50 kVA connected load. Distributed across 8-12 circuits. Main 3-phase connection for AC + heavy loads. Generator/UPS backup separately.

Plumbing System

Pipe Types

PPRC (Polypropylene Random Copolymer) — hot + cold water supply. Master Hot & Cold, Adam Jee. Critical: SDR rating (7.4 best).
UPVC — drainage + sewerage. Master, Galaxy.
CPVC — premium hot water alternative (less common in Pakistan).
Copper — luxury hot water, antimicrobial. Imported, expensive.

Water Pressure System

Overhead Tank: 500-1500 gallons (sizes vary by household)
Underground Tank: 1000-3000 gallons (water shortage backup)
Pressure Pump: For consistent flow at upper floors (1-2 HP typical)
Hot Water: Gas geyser (cheap), electric (clean), solar (eco), heat pump (premium)

HVAC (Mechanical)

AC Sizing (1 ton ≈ 12,000 BTU)

Small bedroom (120-150 sqft): 1 ton
Master bedroom (200-300 sqft): 1.5-2 ton
Drawing room (300-500 sqft): 2-3 ton
Family lounge (400+ sqft): 3-4 ton
10 marla home total: 12-18 ton (6-8 split units typical)

Options

Split Units — Most common. Each room independent. Rs 80K-3 Lac per unit.
Cassette/Ceiling Units — Open spaces, premium look. Rs 1.5-5 Lac per unit.
Central AC — Premium 1 kanal+ luxury. Rs 50 Lac - 2 Crore total.
VRV/VRF Systems — Ultra-luxury, energy-efficient. Rs 1-5 Crore.

Gas Piping

Material: Galvanized iron pipes (GI) or copper. PVC not permitted for gas.
Connections: Sui Northern Gas (SNGPL) for Punjab/KPK. Sui Southern (SSGC) for Sindh/Balochistan.
Safety: Mandatory pressure test before commissioning. Gas detectors recommended in kitchen + boiler rooms.
LPG Alternative: Where SNGPL unavailable. Underground LPG tanks for premium homes.

MEP Total Cost

5 Marla: Rs 8-15 Lac (basic MEP)
10 Marla: Rs 15-30 Lac (standard MEP)
1 Kanal Premium: Rs 30-80 Lac (premium fixtures, full AC)
1 Kanal Luxury: Rs 80 Lac - 2 Cr (central AC, smart home, solar)
2 Kanal Ultra-Luxury: Rs 2-5 Cr+ (full automation, premium systems)

FAQs

Most common MEP mistakes?

Sub-standard wire, PVC pipes for hot water, no ELCB, undersized AC, no proper grounding, generator not isolated from grid.

Should I add solar?

Worth it for 10 marla+ homes. 5 kW system Rs 15-25 Lac. Payback 4-6 years on grid-tied (net metering). 7-9 years with batteries.

UPS vs generator?

UPS for short outages (computers, lights, fans). Generator for long outages (full home or critical loads). Premium homes have both.

MEP Basics for House Construction in Pakistan 2026