Architects in Karachi
Advanced Engineering & Construction provides architectural services in Karachi for residential, commercial, and institutional construction projects under PEC Licence No. 17347, Category C4/E. The scope covers building concept design, complete architectural drawing sets, structural coordination, Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) building plan preparation and submission documentation, 3D exterior visualization, and site supervision during the grey structure phase. Every building legally constructed in Karachi requires architectural drawings prepared in compliance with SBCA’s Karachi Building and Town Planning Regulations 2002 — without approved plans, construction cannot proceed legally and utility connections cannot be obtained. AEC has completed architectural and construction works for institutional clients including NED University of Engineering & Technology, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, PWD, and PDMA.
Architectural services are the first phase of any new construction project — the design and approval work that must be completed before a single column is poured. Engaging an architectural firm and a construction contractor separately creates a coordination gap that costs money and time during construction when drawings and site conditions conflict. AEC delivers both under one PEC licence, from drawing preparation through construction handover.
Leading Architecture Firms in Karachi — What AEC Delivers
Architecture firms in Karachi range from individual drafters producing basic floor plans to multi-discipline teams delivering full building design packages with structural, MEP, and SBCA submission documentation. The correct scope of architectural services depends on building type, plot size, and the authority under which approval is sought — SBCA for most private residential and commercial projects in Karachi, DHA Engineering Directorate for DHA plots, and other authorities for plots within their respective jurisdictions.
AEC’s complete architectural services scope:
| Architectural Service | What Is Included |
|---|---|
| Concept design | Initial floor plan layout options, room configuration, plot coverage analysis against SBCA setback requirements |
| Architectural drawing set | Complete floor plans, elevations from all sides, building sections, roof plan, door and window schedules |
| SBCA submission drawings | Plans prepared and formatted to current SBCA submission requirements for building plan approval |
| 3D exterior visualization | Rendered exterior views for client review and approval before construction begins |
| Structural coordination | Coordination of architectural drawings with column, beam, and slab layout |
| MEP plan coordination | Architectural plans incorporating electrical, plumbing, and mechanical routing zones |
| Site supervision visits | Architect visits during grey structure phase to confirm construction matches approved drawings |
Architectural drawing fees in Karachi — market context:
| Drawing Package | Rate / Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Basic floor plan only | Rs. 45 – Rs. 65 per sq ft (approx. Rs. 12,000 – Rs. 55,000) |
| Detailed construction working drawings + submission blueprints | Rs. 110 – Rs. 210 per sq ft |
| Complete package — residential plot, standard complexity | Rs. 150,000 – Rs. 500,000 |
| New construction architectural fee — percentage basis | 8% – 12% of total construction cost |
| Renovation architectural fee — percentage basis | 15% – 20% of total construction cost |
All fees are confirmed after reviewing plot dimensions, building type, floor count, and required scope of services. Karachi architectural fees run 20 to 40 percent higher than equivalent work in secondary Pakistani cities, reflecting higher operating costs and the complexity of Karachi’s multi-authority approval environment.
Our Architectural Services in Karachi
AEC delivers architectural services as the front end of a full construction delivery — the design phase that makes legal, coordinated, and cost-controlled construction possible. The most expensive construction errors in Karachi originate not on site but in the drawing stage:
- Rooms too small for their intended furniture layout
- Staircases consuming usable floor area that better positioning would recover
- Bathroom wet walls positioned against structural columns
- Window openings violating SBCA setback regulations, requiring redesign after plan submission
- Ceiling heights creating conflicts with false ceiling and HVAC systems installed later
AEC’s architectural process follows four defined stages:
Stage 1 — Site and Brief Analysis
Review of plot dimensions, orientation, SBCA setback requirements for the relevant zone, floor area ratio allowances, and the client’s full space and function brief.
Stage 2 — Concept Design
Initial layout options produced for client review before detailed drawings begin. Room configurations, circulation routes, and facade approach are confirmed at this stage — changes here cost nothing compared to changes after working drawings are produced.
Stage 3 — Detailed Drawing Production
Complete architectural drawing set covering all floor plans, elevations, building sections, door and window schedules, roof plan, and all documents required for SBCA submission and construction contractor use.
Stage 4 — Construction Coordination
Site visits during the grey structure phase to confirm the built structure matches the approved drawings. Discrepancies caught at grey structure stage cost a fraction of what they cost after finishing works are applied.
Top Architects in Karachi — Credentials to Verify
Before engaging any architect or architecture firm in Karachi, two credentials must be confirmed:
1. PCATP Registration
Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners registration authorises an architect to stamp and submit building plans to SBCA and other local authorities. Without PCATP registration, an architect cannot legally submit drawings for building plan approval in Karachi. A complete set of architectural drawings from an unregistered drafter has no legal standing for SBCA submission — it cannot be used for construction permit purposes regardless of its visual quality.
2. PEC Licence (for design-build contractors)
Where the same company is delivering both architectural services and construction, confirm the PEC licence number, category, and validity. AEC holds PEC Licence No. 17347, Category C4/E, valid through June 2026, covering projects up to Rs. 200 million.
AEC coordinates architectural services through PCATP-registered professionals and PEC-licensed civil engineers — clients do not separately source and verify individual professional credentials. The full drawing production, professional stamping, and SBCA submission coordination is managed within AEC’s architectural service scope.
Confirmed AEC institutional project references:
| Client | Project Type |
|---|---|
| NED University of Engineering & Technology | Institutional construction and civil works |
| Jinnah Sindh Medical University | Institutional building works |
| Pakistan Works & Development (PWD) | Government construction contract |
| Pakistan Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) | Government construction contract |
| SZABIST (ZABTECH) | Institutional fit-out and construction |
| Sindh Madrassatul Islam University | Institutional building works |
These clients operate under government procurement frameworks requiring coordinated architectural, structural, and MEP drawings meeting government specification standards — the same drawing quality and coordination standard AEC applies to residential and commercial commissions.
Architecture Company in Pakistan — AEC’s Design-Build Advantage
An architecture company in Pakistan that also holds a PEC construction contractor licence delivers a design-build model that eliminates the handover gap between design and construction. Most Karachi homeowners and developers engage an architect first, receive drawings, then separately tender those drawings to construction contractors. The contractor then identifies conflicts between the drawings and site conditions:
- Column positions that do not match structural calculation requirements
- Slab thicknesses not coordinated with MEP routing depths
- Ceiling heights creating problems for false ceiling systems specified in the interior design
- Door and window positions conflicting with furniture layouts confirmed after drawings were produced
When AEC prepares the architectural drawings and constructs the building, these conflicts do not occur. The team that produced the drawings reads them on site. Coordination questions are resolved internally — not through correspondence between an architect who has moved to another project and a contractor who inherited someone else’s drawings.
This design-build delivery model is the standard approach for institutional and government construction in Pakistan. PWD and PDMA procurement frameworks require a single licensed contractor accountable for both design documentation and physical construction — which is exactly how AEC operates.
Clients ready to proceed from architectural drawings to construction can engage the full grey structure and construction scope here:
Construction & Renovation Services in Karachi →
SBCA Building Plan Approval — What the Process Requires
SBCA is the Sindh Building Control Authority — the regulatory body responsible for approving building plans and issuing construction permits across Karachi under the Karachi Building and Town Planning Regulations 2002. No residential or commercial building in Karachi can be legally constructed without SBCA-approved plans. Utility connections — KESC/K-Electric, KW&SB — are also conditional on SBCA approval documentation.
SBCA submission requires the following from the appointed architect:
- Complete architectural drawings signed and stamped by a PCATP-registered architect
- Structural drawings signed and stamped by a licensed structural engineer
- Indemnity bond from the property owner on stamp paper
- Attested copies of plot allotment or ownership documents
- A1 and A2 forms completed and signed by owner and registered architect respectively
- Soil investigation report for plots above 500 square yards and all commercial buildings
AEC manages the full submission package — drawing preparation, professional stamping coordination, document compilation, and SBCA liaison — as part of the architectural service scope. Clients are guided through each requirement and informed of submission status at every stage.
Following SBCA approval and construction completion, AEC delivers interior design coordination and full fit-out works under the same contractor:
Interior Design Services in Karachi →
Why AEC for Architectural Services in Karachi
AEC credentials at a glance:
| Credential | Detail |
|---|---|
| PEC Licence | No. 17347, Category C4/E |
| Licence Validity | Through June 2026 |
| Maximum Project Value | Rs. 200 million |
| Total PEC Specialization Codes | 26 — civil, electrical, and mechanical |
| Civil Codes Relevant to Architecture | BC01, BC02, CE01, CE08, CE09, CE10 |
| Founded | June 2022 by Engr. Ahsan Razak |
| Office | Office 34, Decent Towers, Gulistan-e-Johar Block 15, Karachi |
Architectural design fees typically represent 1 to 3 percent of total construction cost — a small proportion of the project budget that determines whether the remaining 97 to 99 percent is spent efficiently or wasted on rework, construction errors, and regulatory delays that well-coordinated drawings prevent. The most common failure in Karachi construction projects is not poor workmanship — it is poor drawing coordination. AEC’s design-build model removes that risk from the client’s project.
Related services at AEC:
- Interior Design Services in Karachi →
- Construction & Renovation Services in Karachi →
- False Ceiling Services in Karachi →
- Electrical Contractors in Karachi → (link to be inserted)
- Plumbing Services in Karachi → (link to be inserted)
Get a Quote for Architectural Services in Karachi
Call +92-332-2066882 or email Advancedengineeringc@gmail.com to discuss your plot, building type, and required drawing scope. AEC arranges initial architectural consultations within two working days of the first enquiry.
Advanced Engineering & Construction
Office 34, Decent Towers, Gulistan-e-Johar Block 15, Karachi
+92-332-2066882 | Advancedengineeringc@gmail.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you handle SBCA building plan submission and approval in Karachi?
AEC prepares architectural drawings formatted to SBCA submission requirements for residential and commercial buildings in Karachi under the Karachi Building and Town Planning Regulations 2002. The submission package includes drawings stamped by a PCATP-registered architect and licensed structural engineer, all required forms, and ownership documentation. AEC manages the full submission process and responds to any SBCA queries on submitted drawings. Approval timelines vary by zone, plot size, and current SBCA processing volumes.
How much do architectural services cost in Karachi?
A complete architectural drawing package for a standard residential project in Karachi — floor plans, elevations, sections, 3D visualization, and SBCA submission documents — typically ranges from Rs. 150,000 to Rs. 500,000 depending on plot size, floor count, and design complexity. Detailed construction working drawings are generally priced between Rs. 110 and Rs. 210 per square foot of built area. New construction architectural fees on a percentage basis run 8 to 12 percent of total construction cost. All fees are confirmed after reviewing the plot, brief, and required service scope.
What is the difference between an architect and an interior designer?
An architect designs the building itself — floor plans, structural coordination, elevations, and SBCA approval documents that make legal construction possible. An interior designer works within a completed building shell to plan and coordinate the fit-out — false ceiling, flooring, carpentry, lighting, and finishing works. Architecture comes first. Interior design follows after the structure is approved and built. AEC delivers both services under one PEC-licensed contractor, removing the coordination gap between design phases that causes rework and budget overruns on Karachi projects.
Can you provide structural drawings alongside architectural drawings?
AEC coordinates architectural drawing production with structural engineering inputs — column positions, beam layouts, slab thicknesses, and foundation details are coordinated with the architectural drawings rather than produced separately and reconciled later. Structural drawings for SBCA submission require a licensed structural engineer’s stamp, which AEC arranges as part of the full submission package. Clients receive one coordinated architectural and structural drawing set — not two separate packages that contradict each other on site.
What plot sizes and building types do you cover for architectural services?
AEC delivers architectural services for residential plots from 80 square yards to multi-kanal properties, commercial buildings, office facilities, and institutional structures across Karachi. Confirmed institutional project types include university buildings, medical facilities, and government offices. Residential architectural commissions are delivered across DHA, Scheme 33, Gulistan-e-Johar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, PECHS, Clifton, and North Karachi. Call +92-332-2066882 to discuss your plot size, intended use, and required drawing scope.