ACCO – Ahmed Construction Company · Updated 20 October 2026 · Reviewed by ACCO architects and engineers
Commercial Plaza Construction Cost in Lahore – ACCO
Commercial Plaza Construction Cost in Lahore (2026-27)
Indicative rates per square foot for grey structure and turnkey plazas, what each rate includes and excludes, how covered area is calculated, and a worked budget example.
Quick Answer
In October 2026, ACCO’s indicative rates for commercial plazas in Lahore are PKR 3,500–4,300 per sq ft of covered area for grey structure and PKR 7,500–9,000 for standard turnkey. Premium turnkey is PKR 9,000–11,000, and luxury or mall-type buildings start from PKR 11,000. Budget = covered area × rate, plus separately priced items such as lifts. Land, approval fees and utility connections are excluded.
Commercial Plaza Construction Rates in Lahore (2026-27)
| Scope and grade | PKR per sq ft of covered area | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Grey structure | 3,500 – 4,300 | Structure only; higher end with a basement |
| Standard turnkey | 7,500 – 9,000 | Shops and offices with good local finishes |
| Premium turnkey | 9,000 – 11,000 | Glass façade, imported finishes, higher-spec services |
| Luxury / mall-type | 11,000 and above | Atriums, extensive glazing, central systems |
ACCO’s indicative working rates, last reviewed October 2026. Not a quotation; rates change with steel, cement and labour prices. Turnkey rates already include grey structure.
What Each Rate Includes and Excludes
| Item | Grey structure | Turnkey |
|---|---|---|
| Excavation, foundations, RCC frame, slabs, masonry, roof | Included | Included |
| Concealed conduits, pipes and drainage | Included as specified | Included |
| Plaster, flooring, ceilings, paint, washrooms, doors | Not included | Included to agreed specification |
| Electrical wiring, DBs, lighting, sanitary fittings | Not included | Included |
| Standard façade (plaster, paint, standard glazing) | Not included | Included |
| Lifts, fire systems, central HVAC, curtain wall, generator, solar | Excluded | Priced separately |
| Land, approval fees, utility connections, taxes | Excluded | Excluded |
How Covered Area Is Calculated
Rates apply to covered area: the built floor area of every level, including basement, ground, upper floors and roof structures such as the stair and lift room. Covered area depends on the coverage, setbacks and floors allowed for your plot, which differ between LDA, DHA and private societies. A marla is commonly taken as 225 sq ft in Lahore, but confirm the unit used for your plot.
Items Priced Separately
Lifts
Number, capacity and stops.
Fire safety
Detection, alarms, hose reels, sprinklers and water storage, as required.
Central HVAC or VRF
If not left to tenants.
Curtain wall and cladding
Premium glazing and composite or stone cladding.
Power systems
Generator, transformer and solar.
Difficult basements
Deep shoring or dewatering.
These are quoted from specifications because their cost does not scale with floor area.
Design, Engineering and Approval Costs
Architectural, structural and MEP drawings, soil investigation and authority fees are separate from construction rates. ACCO’s architectural drawings are free when ACCO is awarded the construction. Authority fees depend on the authority, plot and covered area, so confirm them with the relevant office. See our commercial plaza design services.
What Changes the Cost
- Basement: excavation, shoring, retaining walls and waterproofing raise grey-structure cost.
- Soil: weak soil can need deeper or larger foundations.
- Spans and floor heights: large open shops need deeper beams or more steel.
- Number of floors: more floors mean more lift stops and a stronger structure.
- Façade: glazing and cladding choices vary widely in cost.
- Specification: flooring, washroom fittings and lighting move finishing cost most.
Worked Example: 8 Marla Plaza, Basement + Ground + 3
Assumptions for illustration only: 8 marla plot (1,800 sq ft at 225 sq ft per marla), about 1,500 sq ft covered on each of 5 levels, so 7,500 sq ft covered area.
| Scope | Calculation | Indicative budget |
|---|---|---|
| Grey structure | 7,500 × PKR 3,500–4,300 | PKR 2.63 – 3.23 crore |
| Standard turnkey | 7,500 × PKR 7,500–9,000 | PKR 5.63 – 6.75 crore |
| Contingency (5–10%) | On turnkey budget | PKR 0.28 – 0.68 crore |
Add lifts, fire systems and other specialist items from their quotations, plus land, fees and connections. For smaller plots, see the 4 marla and 8 marla cost examples.
Contingency, Taxes and Payment Stages
Keep a 5–10% contingency for price and design changes. Applicable taxes are shown separately in a quotation. Payments are tied to completed stages, such as foundation, each slab, masonry and roof, services, finishing and handover.
How to Get a Project-Specific Estimate
A reliable estimate needs your plot details, drawings (or a brief for us to design), number of floors, basement plans and finishing specification. ACCO then prepares an itemised BOQ. Read how we prepare a commercial plaza BOQ, what our construction scope and supervision include, and how a single design-build proposal works.
Illustrative Budgets by Plot Size
Using ACCO’s October 2026 rates and the assumptions shown. Covered area per floor is an assumption; your permitted coverage and floors decide the real figure.
| Plot | Assumed levels | Assumed covered area | Grey structure (PKR 3,500–4,300) | Standard turnkey (PKR 7,500–9,000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 marla (900 sq ft) | Ground + 3 | 3,000 sq ft | 1.05 – 1.29 crore | 2.25 – 2.70 crore |
| 8 marla (1,800 sq ft) | Basement + Ground + 3 | 7,500 sq ft | 2.63 – 3.23 crore | 5.63 – 6.75 crore |
| 10 marla (2,250 sq ft) | Basement + Ground + 3 | 9,250 sq ft | 3.24 – 3.98 crore | 6.94 – 8.33 crore |
| 1 kanal (4,500 sq ft) | Basement + Ground + 4 | 21,600 sq ft | 7.56 – 9.29 crore | 16.20 – 19.44 crore |
Illustrative budgets, not quotations. Excludes land, lifts, fire systems, central HVAC, curtain walls, approval fees, utility connections and taxes. Marla taken as 225 sq ft.
Where the Grey Structure Money Goes
Typical share of grey-structure cost for an RCC-frame commercial building, with reference material rates used in ACCO estimates (October 2026, approximate).
| Item | Typical share | Reference rate (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Steel (Grade 60) | 25 – 30% | PKR 255 – 285 per kg |
| Cement | 18 – 22% | PKR 1,450 – 1,600 per bag |
| Bricks or blocks | 12 – 15% | PKR 16,000 – 21,500 per 1,000 bricks |
| Sand and crush | 10 – 12% | Varies by source and quantity |
| Labour | 18 – 22% | Included in contract rate |
| Shuttering, water, waterproofing and other | 5 – 10% | Per BOQ |
In a standard turnkey plaza, grey structure is usually a little under half of the total cost; finishing, services and façade make up the rest.
What Changes Between Finishing Grades
| Element | Standard | Premium | Luxury / mall-type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flooring | Local porcelain tiles | Large-format or imported tiles, stone at entrance | Marble or granite in public areas |
| Shopfronts | Aluminium and clear glass | Frameless or thermally improved glazing | Full-height glazing systems |
| Façade | Plaster, paint and ACP accents | ACP or stone cladding with feature lighting | Curtain wall, cladding and media lighting |
| Ceilings | Gypsum in common areas | Gypsum with lighting design | Feature ceilings and atrium finishes |
| Washrooms | Local branded fittings | Premium branded fittings | Designer fittings and finishes |
| Common areas | Basic lobby and stairs | Finished lobby, lift lobbies | Atrium, escalators where planned |
Ways to Control Cost Without Cutting Quality
Fix the design before pricing
Late changes are the most expensive changes.
Use a regular column grid
Repeating spans reduce steel, shuttering and labour time.
Keep wet areas stacked
Washrooms above each other shorten plumbing and drainage runs.
Choose façade materials early
Glazing and cladding affect structure and budget.
Leave tenant fit-out to tenants
Shell-and-core shops reduce upfront finishing cost.
Compare BOQs line by line
Ensures quotes cover the same scope and grades.
Commercial Plaza Guides
Related ACCO Services
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the construction cost per sq ft of a commercial plaza in Lahore in 2026-27?
ACCO’s indicative October 2026 rates are PKR 3,500–4,300 per sq ft for grey structure and PKR 7,500–9,000 for standard turnkey, on covered area. Premium turnkey is PKR 9,000–11,000.
Is a basement worth adding?
A basement adds parking or rentable space but raises excavation, shoring and waterproofing cost. Whether it pays back depends on rents, parking rules and soil.
Are lifts included in the per sq ft rate?
No. Lifts, fire systems, central HVAC and curtain walls are priced separately from their specifications.
Why do builders’ quotes differ so much?
Quotes differ in scope, quantities, material grades and exclusions. Compare them line by line using an itemised BOQ.
How accurate is a per sq ft estimate?
It is a planning figure. The final price depends on drawings, specifications, site conditions, covered area and the agreed scope.
How much does a 4 marla commercial plaza cost to build in Lahore?
For a ground plus three plaza of about 3,000 sq ft, grey structure is roughly PKR 1.05–1.29 crore and standard turnkey roughly PKR 2.25–2.70 crore at October 2026 rates, excluding land, lifts and fees.
How much does an 8 marla commercial plaza cost?
For basement plus ground plus three, about 7,500 sq ft, grey structure is roughly PKR 2.63–3.23 crore and standard turnkey PKR 5.63–6.75 crore, excluding land, lifts and fees.
What is the finishing-only cost for a commercial plaza?
As a guide, standard finishing is roughly the difference between turnkey and grey-structure rates, about PKR 4,000–4,700 per sq ft. Exact cost depends on the finishing specification.
Is a basement priced at the same rate as upper floors?
No. Basements cost more per sq ft because of excavation, shoring, retaining walls and waterproofing. That is why the grey-structure range goes up to PKR 4,300.
Do the rates include taxes?
No. Applicable taxes are shown separately in a quotation.
Can ACCO fix the price for the whole project?
Pricing terms are agreed in the contract. A fixed price is possible when drawings and specifications are complete; otherwise rates are linked to the BOQ.
How often are these rates updated?
ACCO reviews its indicative rates when steel, cement or labour prices change significantly. The date of the last review is shown with the rate table.
Request a Project-Specific Commercial Plaza Estimate
Send your plot size, location, number of floors, basement plans and finishing level. ACCO will prepare an itemised estimate.
Request an Estimate WhatsApp +92 322 8000190
Call +92-322-8000190 · Email info@acco.com.pk · Office 2, 3rd Floor, BigCity Plaza, Gulberg-III, Lahore