Advanced Engineering & Construction (AEC) executes civil contracting and grey structure construction across Karachi under PEC Licence No. 17347, Category C4/E, covering projects up to Rs. 200 million in construction cost. The company manages foundation work, structural framing, and new home construction from site survey through handover, alongside civil works for institutional clients including NED University of Engineering & Technology and Jinnah Sindh Medical University. AEC has also delivered projects for Pakistan Works & Development (PWD) and other government departments. Every project runs under the Construction and Operation of Engineering Works Bye-laws 1987.

This page covers AEC’s civil contracting and new construction work — the structural phase that sits before any finishing trade begins. Specialized trades, including electrical work, plumbing, flooring, and false ceiling installation, run on their own dedicated service pages and are not duplicated here. Grey structure construction is the foundational phase of every build — explore the complete range of construction services in Karachi that AEC delivers from grey structure through to final finishing.

What’s Included in AEC’s Civil Contracting Scope

AEC’s civil contracting scope covers site excavation, foundation casting, column and beam structure, slab work, and brickwork up to roof level. As general contractor on a project, AEC also coordinates electrical and mechanical works, material procurement, and site scheduling, so a client deals with one point of contact rather than separate trades. Soil testing is carried out before foundation design on any site where ground condition is uncertain, particularly on reclaimed or coastal land.

Grey Structure Construction

Grey structure construction covers the foundation, columns, beams, slabs, and brickwork that form a building’s structural frame. AEC executes this phase under PEC specialization codes BC01 and BC02 for building construction, with civil and site engineering work falling under codes CE08, CE09, and CE10.

What grey structure construction includes:

Component	Scope
Foundation & footing	Excavation, concrete, steel reinforcement
RCC columns & beams	Load-bearing structural frame
Roof slab	Cast per floor before brickwork
Brickwork & block work	Wall infill between the frame
DPC & basic waterproofing	Damp protection at foundation level

Karachi’s soil varies between reclaimed coastal land and inland plots, and foundation depth changes accordingly. A property near Clifton or DHA often needs a different footing design than one in Gulistan-e-Johar or North Karachi. Each stage is inspected before the next begins, since structural errors at this phase are costly to correct later.

PEC codes covering this work:

Code	Category
BC01	Building Construction
BC02	Building Construction
CE08	Civil Engineering Works
CE09	Civil Engineering Works
CE10	Civil Engineering Works

How AEC Executes Grey Structure Work

AEC follows a fixed sequence on every grey structure project: excavation and soil verification, foundation casting, column and beam framing, slab casting floor by floor, and brickwork infill. Each stage is inspected before the next begins, since a structural fault discovered after the next floor is cast is far more costly to fix than one caught at the same stage.

The most common technical risk in grey structure work along Karachi’s coastal belt is not the concrete mix itself but inadequate curing time before formwork removal. High humidity slows visible surface drying without guaranteeing the concrete has gained sufficient strength underneath, and removing formwork too early on this assumption is a frequent cause of cracking in Karachi construction. AEC holds formwork in place for a fixed minimum period regardless of how dry the surface appears, based on concrete grade and ambient temperature at the time of casting.

Grey Structure Cost in Karachi

Coverage	Grey Structure Rate (PKR/sq ft)
DHA Karachi specifically	2,600 – 3,200
Karachi, city-wide	3,200 – 3,800
Karachi, city-wide	~2,800 (lower end of broader range)
Pakistan major cities average	2,800 – 3,500

Turnkey / Full Construction Cost in Karachi

Coverage	Turnkey Rate (PKR/sq ft)
Karachi, city-wide	5,500 – 7,500
Pakistan major cities average	5,800 – 8,800
Karachi & national	10,000+

Grey structure construction in Karachi typically costs between Rs. 2,800 and Rs. 3,800 per square foot, depending on structural design, steel reinforcement ratio, and soil condition at the site. A site requiring deeper foundations due to reclaimed or coastal soil sits toward the higher end of this range, since additional excavation and concrete volume add directly to cost.

This range covers structural work only — foundation, framing, and slab — and does not include finishing, electrical, or plumbing. A full turnkey build in Karachi, covering structure and complete finishing together, typically runs between Rs. 5,500 and Rs. 7,500 per square foot for standard finishing, rising above Rs. 10,000 per square foot for premium or imported finishing specifications.

New Home Construction

AEC builds new homes in Karachi from the foundation through final finishing, managing each stage under one contract rather than handing the project between separate trades.

New home construction, stage by stage:

1. Site survey and soil testing
2. Structural drawings and SBCA approval
3. Grey structure construction
4. Electrical and plumbing rough-in
5. Finishing and handover

Building plans must comply with Sindh Building Control Authority bylaws for the plot’s zoning, covering setback distances, floor area ratio, and maximum permissible height for the area. AEC manages this approval step as part of the new construction process rather than leaving it to the client to coordinate separately. Grey structure work for new homes follows the same process described above, under PEC codes BC01 and BC02.

PEC Licence and Credentials Behind AEC’s Civil Work

Advanced Engineering & Construction holds PEC Licence No. 17347, Category C4/E, issued under the Construction and Operation of Engineering Works Bye-laws 1987 and valid through 30 June 2026. This licence permits AEC to undertake civil construction works up to Rs. 200 million, covering the foundation, structural, and grey structure work described on this page. AEC holds twenty-six PEC specialization codes in total, spanning civil, electrical, and mechanical works.

AEC has delivered civil works for government and institutional clients including Pakistan Works & Development (PWD), Pakistan Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), NED University of Engineering & Technology, and Jinnah Sindh Medical University. These clients run formal procurement processes that require verified PEC registration before a contractor is engaged for structural work. Founded in June 2022 by Engr. Ahsan Razak, AEC has built this institutional client base within a few years of operation.

Why Choose AEC for Civil Contracting in Karachi

AEC documents structural drawings, soil reports, and PEC specialization codes on the project file before work begins, not only if a client asks.

What’s Common Among Unregistered Karachi Contractors	What AEC Provides
Foundation depth set by habit, not soil testing	Foundation design checked against site soil condition
No PEC licence on file	Work executed under PEC Licence No. 17347, Category C4/E
Verbal cost estimate before drawings exist	Quote issued against structural drawings or soil report
Separate trades, no single point of contact	One contract covering civil, electrical, and mechanical works

Renovating an Existing Property Instead?

If your property already has a finished grey structure and needs renovation rather than new construction, AEC’s home renovation services in Karachi cover flooring, electrical, plumbing, and finishing work for existing homes and offices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AEC a PEC-licensed civil contractor in Karachi?

Yes, AEC holds PEC Licence No. 17347, Category C4/E, valid through 30 June 2026. This licence covers civil construction works up to Rs. 200 million and includes the BC01 and BC02 specialization codes relevant to grey structure and building construction. The licence is registered under the Construction and Operation of Engineering Works Bye-laws 1987.

How much does grey structure construction cost in Karachi?

Grey structure construction cost depends on structural design, steel reinforcement ratio, and soil condition at the site. This range covers foundation, framing, and slab work only, not finishing, electrical, or plumbing installation. AEC provides a project-specific quote after reviewing structural drawings or a soil test report.

Does AEC handle SBCA approval for new home construction?

Yes, AEC manages Sindh Building Control Authority approval as part of the new construction process, covering setback distances, floor area ratio, and height limits for the plot’s zoning. This is handled alongside structural drawing preparation, before grey structure work begins. Clients are not left to coordinate SBCA approval separately.

Does AEC handle foundation design for reclaimed or coastal land?

Yes, AEC adjusts foundation depth and design based on the site’s soil report, which matters most on reclaimed or coastal land near areas like DHA and Clifton. Soil testing is carried out before foundation design wherever ground condition is uncertain. Foundation work on weaker soil typically costs more due to additional excavation and concrete volume.

What is the difference between civil contracting and home renovation?

Civil contracting covers new construction and structural work — foundation, framing, and grey structure — for buildings being built from the ground up. Home renovation covers finishing, electrical, plumbing, and layout work on properties that already have a completed structure. AEC offers both, under separate scopes and separate quotes.

What size of project can AEC take on under its current PEC licence?

AEC’s PEC Licence No. 17347, Category C4/E permits construction projects up to Rs. 200 million in cost. This covers most residential and mid-scale commercial civil contracting projects in Karachi. Projects beyond this value would require licence category upgrade confirmation before AEC could undertake them.