Guide
Construction Labour Rate Per Sq Ft in Pakistan: Labour-Only Contract Rates
By Laraib Noor
Real Estate Analyst
12 min read
The construction labour rate per sq ft in Pakistan in 2026 is about Rs 550 to Rs 850 per square foot of covered area for grey structure work on a labour-only contract (theka), at November 2026 rates. Islamabad and Rawalpindi sit at the top of that range and Lahore at the lower end. Finishing labour adds roughly another Rs 450 to Rs 700 per sq ft, so labour for a complete house usually comes to Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,550 per sq ft, with the owner buying all the material.
This guide covers theka rates by city, daily wages for masons and other trades, finishing labour rates, labour cost for 5 marla, 10 marla and 1 kanal houses, and how a labour-only contract compares with a with-material one. To see what the material side adds, enter your covered area in the Milkiyat construction cost calculator.
Labour Rate for House Construction in Pakistan (November 2026)
| City | Grey structure labour (theka) | Finishing labour (approx.) | Complete house labour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Islamabad | Rs 650 – 850 per sq ft | Rs 450 – 700 per sq ft | Rs 1,100 – 1,550 per sq ft |
| Rawalpindi | Rs 600 – 800 per sq ft | Rs 450 – 650 per sq ft | Rs 1,050 – 1,450 per sq ft |
| Lahore | Rs 550 – 700 per sq ft | Rs 400 – 600 per sq ft | Rs 950 – 1,300 per sq ft |
Rates are per sq ft of covered area (every floor added together, including the mumty), for labour only. The owner buys cement, steel, bricks, sand, crush and all finishing material. Rates are market estimates from late 2026 and vary by contractor, design and site.
Islamabad labour costs more because the capital has a higher cost of living, contractors face more inspections in CDA sectors and big societies, and many skilled workers travel in from other districts. Lahore has a much larger local labour pool, which keeps theka rates lower.
What a Grey Structure Theka Usually Covers
A grey structure labour contract (theka) normally pays for the workers who build the shell of the house:
- Excavation, setting out and foundation work
- Steel cutting, bending and fixing (sarya work)
- Shuttering, concrete pouring and curing of columns, beams and slabs
- Brick masonry for all walls
- Inside and outside plaster
- Fixing the conduit pipes and boxes that the electrician lays
What is often left out of a theka rate, so ask about each one before you sign:
- Shuttering material and scaffolding hire (some thekedars bring their own, others charge extra)
- Water and electricity for the site
- Electrician and plumber labour for the rough-in work
- Boundary wall, which is often priced per running foot rather than per sq ft
- Debris removal and site cleaning
- A watchman
The theka rate is measured on covered area, so agree in writing how the porch, mumty, open terraces and any basement will be counted.
Mason Labour Rate in Pakistan (Mistri Ka Rate)
Most thekedars price work per sq ft, but they pay their crews by the day. Knowing the daily rates helps you judge whether a per sq ft quote is reasonable.
| Trade | Islamabad / Rawalpindi (per day) | Lahore (per day) |
|---|---|---|
| Mason (raj mistri) | Rs 2,400 – 3,000 | Rs 2,200 – 2,600 |
| Helper (mazdoor) | Rs 1,400 – 1,800 | Rs 1,300 – 1,600 |
| Steel fixer | Rs 2,200 – 2,800 | Rs 2,000 – 2,500 |
| Tile mason | Rs 2,500 – 3,500 | Rs 2,300 – 3,000 |
| Electrician | Rs 2,500 – 3,800 | Rs 2,400 – 3,200 |
| Plumber | Rs 2,500 – 3,800 | Rs 2,200 – 3,000 |
| Painter | Rs 2,000 – 2,800 | Rs 2,000 – 2,600 |
| Carpenter | Rs 2,500 – 3,500 | Rs 2,300 – 3,000 |
Market ranges for late 2026. Government price data put the average mason wage at Rs 2,404 a day in Islamabad and Rs 2,260 in Lahore in January 2026, and market rates have risen since.
Daily-wage hiring (dihari) can work for small repair jobs. For a full house, a per sq ft theka is usually easier to control, because the thekedar carries the risk of slow work.
Finishing Labour Rate Per Sq Ft
Finishing trades are usually hired separately, each on its own rate. These are labour-only rates; the owner supplies the tiles, paint, fittings and wood.
| Work | Typical labour rate (late 2026) | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Floor tile fixing | Rs 60 – 100 | per sq ft of tiled floor |
| Wall tile fixing (bathrooms, kitchen) | Rs 70 – 110 | per sq ft of tiled wall |
| Large-format tiles (24 x 48 and bigger) | Rs 90 – 160 | per sq ft |
| Marble fixing and polishing | Rs 100 – 180 | per sq ft |
| Paint (putty, primer and two coats) | Rs 15 – 25 | per sq ft of wall and ceiling area |
| Plumbing (complete house) | Rs 50 – 80 | per sq ft of covered area |
| Electrical wiring and fitting | Rs 50 – 90 | per sq ft of covered area |
| Gypsum false ceiling | Rs 40 – 70 | per sq ft of ceiling |
Islamabad usually sits at the top of each range and Lahore near the bottom. Large tiles, marble and decorative ceilings need more skilled workers and cost more per sq ft.
Added up across a whole house, these trades usually come to about Rs 450 to Rs 700 per sq ft of covered area in the twin cities, depending on how much tiling, ceiling work and woodwork the design has.
Labour Cost for 5 Marla, 10 Marla and 1 Kanal Houses
Here is what labour alone costs for typical double-storey houses in Islamabad, with all material bought by the owner.
| House | Covered area | Grey structure labour | Finishing labour | Total labour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Marla | 2,000 sq ft | Rs 13 – 17 lakh | Rs 9 – 14 lakh | Rs 22 – 31 lakh |
| 10 Marla | 3,400 sq ft | Rs 22.1 – 28.9 lakh | Rs 15.3 – 23.8 lakh | Rs 37.4 – 52.7 lakh |
| 1 Kanal | 5,200 sq ft | Rs 33.8 – 44.2 lakh | Rs 23.4 – 36.4 lakh | Rs 57.2 – 80.6 lakh |
Islamabad rates: grey Rs 650 – 850 and finishing Rs 450 – 700 per sq ft.
In Lahore, grey structure labour for the same 5 marla house is about Rs 11 to Rs 14 lakh, about Rs 2 to Rs 3 lakh less than in Islamabad.
Labour is a smaller share of the total than many owners expect. On a standard 5 marla house in Islamabad, grey labour of about Rs 15 lakh is less than a fifth of a grey structure budget of about Rs 82 lakh. For the full material-by-material budget, see our guide on 10 marla house construction cost.
Labour-Only vs With-Material Contract
| Point | Labour-only (theka) | With-material (turnkey or grey with material) |
|---|---|---|
| Who buys material | Owner | Contractor |
| Typical grey rate (Islamabad) | Rs 650 – 850 per sq ft | Rs 3,700 – 4,100 per sq ft |
| Contractor's margin | Only on labour | 10% – 20% on the whole job |
| Material price risk | Owner carries it | Contractor carries it (if the rate is fixed) |
| Owner's time | High: buying, storing, checking deliveries | Low to medium |
| Quality control of material | Owner chooses brands | Must be written into the contract |
When labour-only makes sense: you live near the site, can visit several times a week, know reliable suppliers, and want to choose every brand yourself. The saving can be large, because you avoid a margin of 10% to 20% on material worth lakhs.
When with-material makes sense: you are overseas or busy, prices are rising fast, or you want one party responsible for the whole job. Insist on a written bill of quantities (BOQ) that names cement and steel brands and grades.
Many owners use a mix. They hire a labour-only theka for grey structure, where material quantities are easy to check, and then hire finishing contractors who supply both material and labour for specialist jobs such as the kitchen, wardrobes and false ceilings.
How to Check a Theka Rate Before You Sign
- Get your plan approved first. In CDA sectors, the building plan approval procedures list the documents and scrutiny fee. A thekedar should work only from approved drawings.
- Get three quotes on the same drawings. A quote without drawings is only a guess.
- Ask what is included. Use the list above: shuttering, scaffolding, water, electrician and plumber rough-in, boundary wall and debris removal.
- Agree how covered area is measured. Decide in writing whether the porch, mumty and terraces count.
- Visit a finished project. Look at the plaster lines, slab finish and brick bonding.
- Link payments to stages. For example: foundation and plinth, ground floor slab, first floor slab, brickwork and plaster. Never pay a large advance.
- Hold back a retention. Keeping 5% to 10% until a month after handover gives the thekedar a reason to fix defects.
A rate well below the ranges above often means fewer workers, a slower schedule, poor curing or weak supervision. Those problems usually cost more later than the money saved.
Factors That Change Labour Rates
- City and area: Islamabad and big societies such as DHA and Bahria Town pay more than outer areas. Browse the Islamabad sectors and societies page on Milkiyat if you are still choosing where to build.
- Design complexity: cantilevers, curved walls, double-height spaces and exposed brick need more skilled hours.
- Plot access: narrow streets, no space to store material, or a sloping plot slow the work and raise the rate.
- Season: labour is scarcer around Eid and the wheat harvest, and rates can rise then.
- Society rules: some societies limit working hours or require registered contractors. If your plot is in Park View City Islamabad, check its current construction rules before you hire a crew.
- Project size: bigger houses often get a slightly lower per sq ft labour rate, because the crew stays on one site longer.
What Labour Rates Do Not Include
- All construction material (cement, steel, bricks, sand, crush, tiles, paint, fittings).
- Land. If you are still looking for a plot, compare current plots for sale in Park View City Islamabad with sector prices.
- Approval fees for the building plan, charged by CDA, LDA, RDA or your society.
- Architect and structural engineer fees.
- Rent while you build: most houses take 8 to 18 months to finish.
If you are comparing Islamabad and the Rawalpindi side, browse Rawalpindi areas and societies on Milkiyat. Labour is slightly cheaper in Rawalpindi, and plot prices are often lower too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the construction labour rate per sq ft in Pakistan in 2026?
For grey structure on a labour-only contract, it is about Rs 550 to Rs 850 per sq ft of covered area. Lahore sits near Rs 550 to Rs 700, and Islamabad near Rs 650 to Rs 850.
Q2. What is the labour rate for complete house construction?
Grey structure plus finishing labour usually comes to Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,550 per sq ft of covered area, with the owner buying all material. Most houses take 8 to 18 months, so also budget for rent; check current flats for rent in G-11 or near your plot.
Q3. What is the mistri ka rate in 2026?
A mason (raj mistri) earns about Rs 2,400 to Rs 3,000 a day in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, and about Rs 2,200 to Rs 2,600 a day in Lahore. Helpers earn about Rs 1,300 to Rs 1,800 a day.
Q4. How much is the labour cost for a 5 marla house?
For a double-storey 5 marla house of about 2,000 sq ft in Islamabad, grey labour costs about Rs 13 to Rs 17 lakh, and total labour including finishing about Rs 22 to Rs 31 lakh.
Q5. Is a labour-only contract cheaper than a with-material contract?
Usually yes, because you avoid the contractor's margin on material. But you carry the price risk and must manage buying and quality yourself. If you would rather skip building altogether, compare apartments for sale in Park View City Islamabad or a ready house.
Q6. How is the theka rate measured?
On covered area: every floor added together. Agree in writing how the porch, mumty, terraces and boundary wall will be counted, because these are the usual sources of disputes.
Conclusion
Labour-only rates for grey structure in Pakistan run from about Rs 550 per sq ft in Lahore to Rs 850 per sq ft in Islamabad in late 2026, and finishing labour adds roughly Rs 450 to Rs 700 more. Labour is a smaller part of the budget than material, but a weak thekedar can damage the whole house. Compare three quotes on the same drawings, write down exactly what is included, link payments to stages, and keep a retention until the defects are fixed.
Disclaimer: All rates are market estimates for late October 2026 and vary by city, contractor, design and site. Get written quotations before you commit any money.
Related Guides
- 5 Marla House Construction Cost in Pakistan 2026
- 1 Kanal (20 Marla) House Construction Cost in Pakistan 2026
- Construction Cost in Islamabad 2026
- Construction Cost in Lahore 2026
Sources
- Gazette of Pakistan — ICT Residential Sectors Zoning (Building Control) Regulations, S.R.O. 1575(I)/2019
- Lahore Development Authority (LDA) — Downloads: Building and Zoning Regulations
- [Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) — Private Housing Schemes](https://rda.gop.pk/phs/