# Best electric wire for house wiring in Pakistan: sizes, brands and price per coil

URL: https://which.pk/property/guides/best-electric-wire-brand-pakistan/
Author: Ahtisham
Updated: 20 Oct 2026

## Summary

The best electric wire in Pakistan is copper wire of the right size for each circuit, made to BS 6004 and the PSQCA standard. Size matters more than brand: 2.5 mm² wire in conduit is rated 24 A at 30°C, enough for a 1.5-ton inverter AC drawing up to 8.1 A. A 90 metre coil of 7/29 wire cost Rs 18,816 to Rs 25,339 in October 2026 across Fast, Pakistan Cables and Newage. Unregistered buyers pay about 3.4% more.

## Key facts

- 7/29 wire, 90 m coil (Oct 2026): Rs 18,816 to Rs 25,339
- 2.5 mm² wire, 90 m coil: Rs 16,283 to Rs 22,293
- 3/29 wire, 90 m coil: Rs 8,611 to Rs 11,568
- 2.5 mm² in conduit, at 30°C: Rated 24 A

The best electric wire in Pakistan is **copper wire of the right size for each circuit**, made to a British standard and certified by PSQCA. Size matters more than brand: a 2.5 mm² copper wire in conduit is rated **24 A** at 30°C. A 90 metre coil of the common **7/29 wire cost Rs 18,816 to Rs 25,339** in October 2026 on the price lists and shop of Fast, Pakistan Cables and Newage.

We found no independent test that ranks Pakistani wire brands. So this guide covers what each size carries, how to check a coil, and the prices three brands publish.

## What do 3/29, 7/29 and 7/36 mean?

The old imperial names give the number of copper strands and the thickness of each strand in inches. "7/29" is 7 strands of 0.029 inch wire. Newer coils are sold by cross-section in square millimetres (mm²). By our calculation:

| Wire name | Cross-section | Nearest metric size |
|---|---|---|
| 3/.029 ("3/29") | about 1.28 mm² | between 1 and 1.5 mm² |
| 7/.029 ("7/29") | about 2.98 mm² | a little more than 2.5 mm² |
| 7/.036 ("7/36") | about 4.60 mm² | a little more than 4 mm² |

Pakistan Cables' blog calls 7/29 and 7/36 the "metric equivalents" of 2.5 and 4 mm². The imperial sizes have slightly more copper than those metric sizes. Pakistan Cables and Newage still list 3/29 and 7/29 under the BS 2004 standard; neither list has a 7/36 price.

## Which wire size do I need for each circuit?

Pick the size by the current the circuit carries. Pakistan Cables' catalogue gives these ratings for single-core PVC copper wire, two wires per circuit, at 30°C (from the British wiring rules, BS 7671):

| Size | In conduit or trunking | Clipped to a wall | Voltage drop |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mm² | 13.5 A | 15.5 A | 44 mV per amp per metre |
| 1.5 mm² | 17.5 A | 20 A | 29 mV |
| 2.5 mm² | 24 A | 27 A | 18 mV |
| 4 mm² | 32 A | 37 A | 11 mV |
| 6 mm² | 41 A | 47 A | 7.3 mV |
| 10 mm² | 57 A | 65 A | 4.4 mV |

**Pakistani summers cut these ratings.** The catalogue's correction factor is 0.87 at 40°C, 0.79 at 45°C and 0.71 at 50°C. At 45°C, 2.5 mm² wire in conduit is good for about 19 A (24 × 0.79).

**Example: a 1.5-ton inverter AC.** Haier lists a running current of up to 8.1 A for its 1.5-ton DC inverter. On a 2.5 mm² circuit in conduit that leaves room even at 45°C. Over a 20 metre run, the voltage drop is about 2.9 V (18 mV × 8.1 A × 20 m), our calculation.

The breaker matters as much as the wire. Pakistan Cables' wiring rules say each circuit needs a protective device that trips at a current matched to the wire's safe rating. Ask your electrician which breaker goes on each circuit, and give each AC its own.

## Best electric wire for a home: what should I check on the coil?

- **Copper, not "mixed" metal.** Pakistan Cables makes its wiring with high conductivity copper to BS EN 60228. Its blog warns that "mixed" copper wire is cheaper but has higher resistance.
- **The standard printed on it.** PVC-insulated power and lighting cable (PS/IEC 60227) is item 47 on PSQCA's list of compulsory items, so it must meet the Pakistan standard. Pakistan Cables and Newage list their wire under BS 6004 or BS 2004.
- **The size printed on it.** Compare it with the size you paid for.
- **Colours.** Pakistan Cables uses red or black for single-core wire, black for neutral and green/yellow for earth.
- **LSZH if you want it.** Low smoke zero halogen insulation gives off less smoke in a fire, per Pakistan Cables. Newage's 2.5 mm² LSZH coil costs Rs 23,408 against Rs 22,293 for PVC (registered, 11 Sep 2026).

## Electric wire prices in Pakistan by brand (October 2026)

Prices for a 90 metre coil, single core. Pakistan Cables and Newage prices are their suggested retail lists for buyers registered for sales tax. Fast's are sale prices on its own online shop on 20 October 2026.

| Wire | Fast (shop, sale) | Pakistan Cables (1 Oct 2026) | Newage (11 Sep 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/29 | Rs 8,611 | Rs 9,875 | Rs 11,568 |
| 7/29 | Rs 18,816 | Rs 21,865 | Rs 25,339 |
| 1.5 mm² stranded | Rs 10,132 | Rs 12,100 | Rs 13,716 |
| 2.5 mm² stranded | Rs 16,283 | Rs 19,300 | Rs 22,293 |
| 4 mm² | Rs 24,534 | Rs 29,095 | Rs 33,018 |
| 6 mm² | Rs 36,258 | Rs 43,225 | Rs 48,895 |

**Per metre, our calculation:** 7/29 costs about Rs 209 (Fast), Rs 243 (Pakistan Cables) and Rs 282 (Newage). 2.5 mm² costs about Rs 181, Rs 214 and Rs 248.

Fast's shop showed every size 30% below a crossed-out price; the crossed-out 7/29 price was Rs 26,880. Both lists say prices can change without notice, and dealers may charge differently.

**Registered or unregistered?** Pakistan Cables' prices include 18% sales tax for registered buyers and 22% for unregistered ones, so a home buyer without a sales tax registration pays about 3.4% more. Its 7/29 coil is Rs 22,606 unregistered; Newage's is Rs 26,198.

## What does an electrician charge?

The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) tracks the electrician's rate per point (one light, fan or socket). In September 2026 it averaged Rs 319 in Lahore, Rs 418 in Karachi, Rs 487 in Islamabad, Rs 471 in Rawalpindi, Rs 284 in Multan and Rs 332 in Peshawar.

Solar wiring is different: panels use DC cable with XLPO insulation. Newage lists 4 mm² solar cable at Rs 532 a metre and 6 mm² at Rs 763 (registered, 11 Sep 2026). See [solar system prices](/solar/guides/solar-system-price-pakistan/) for the rest of a solar setup.

**What we couldn't check:** We found no Pakistani government rule (NEPRA or the Pakistan Engineering Council) that sets a wire size per circuit, so we use the BS 7671 ratings in Pakistan Cables' catalogue. Dawn and Pioneer cables publish no prices we could open. No brand lists a 7/36 coil price. The ratings assume two wires in a conduit; more circuits in one pipe lower them, so let a licensed electrician size the final layout.

## Plan the rest of the build

Wiring is part of the finishing stage. For the total, see [house construction cost in Pakistan](/property/guides/house-construction-cost-pakistan/) and the [contractor with material vs labour-only](/property/guides/contractor-with-material-vs-labour-rate/) guide. For this month's cement and steel, see [construction material prices](/property/guides/construction-material-prices/).

More guides: [best paint for a house](/property/guides/best-paint-for-house-pakistan/), [which marble is best for flooring](/property/guides/which-marble-is-best-for-floor/), [inverter AC electricity use](/solar/guides/inverter-ac-electricity-consumption/).

## Questions people ask

### What is the 7/29 wire price in Pakistan?

A 90 metre coil of 7/.029 cost Rs 21,865 on Pakistan Cables' list (1 Oct 2026) and Rs 25,339 on Newage's (11 Sep 2026), both for sales tax registered buyers. Fast's online shop had it at Rs 18,816 on sale on 20 Oct 2026.

### What is the 7/29 wire price per metre?

Divide the coil price by 90. By our calculation that is about Rs 209 a metre at Fast's sale price, Rs 243 at Pakistan Cables and Rs 282 at Newage (registered prices, October 2026).

### Which wire size is best for an AC?

Haier's 1.5-ton inverter AC draws up to 8.1 A. A 2.5 mm² copper wire in conduit is rated 24 A at 30°C and about 19 A at 45°C, so 2.5 mm² or 7/29 has room to spare. Give each AC its own circuit and breaker.

### Which is the best electric wire company in Pakistan?

We found no independent test that ranks Pakistani wire brands. Pakistan Cables, Newage and Fast all publish prices, and Pakistan Cables and Newage list their wire under British standards. Check that the wire is copper, the size is printed on it, and the brand is PSQCA certified.

### Why is there a registered and an unregistered price?

Pakistan Cables' list includes 18% sales tax for sales tax registered buyers and 22% for unregistered ones. So an unregistered buyer pays about 3.4% more for the same coil.

## Sources

- [Suggested Retail Price List of General Wiring & Cables, effective 1 Oct 2026](https://www.pakistancables.com/wp-content/uploads/Retail-Price-List-01.10.2026-For-Customers.pdf), Pakistan Cables Limited (accessed 20 Oct 2026)
- [Suggested Price List of General Wiring & Cables, effective 11 Sep 2026](https://newagecables.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/NCPL-Rate_List-11th-September-2026-1.jpg-scaled.jpeg), Newage Cables (accessed 20 Oct 2026)
- [Cables (online shop prices)](https://fasteshop.pk/cables/), Fast Cables (FastEshop) (accessed 20 Oct 2026)
- [Product Catalogue: General Wiring (current ratings, voltage drop)](https://www.pakistancables.com/wp-content/uploads/General-Wiring-Cables-Catalogue.pdf), Pakistan Cables Limited (accessed 20 Oct 2026)
- [The Silent Priority: Wiring and Cables (blog, 15 May 2026)](https://www.pakistancables.com/blogs/the-silent-priority-wiring-and-cables/), Pakistan Cables Limited (accessed 20 Oct 2026)
- [Cables and Tables](https://www.pakistancables.com/wp-content/uploads/Cables-and-Tables.pdf), Pakistan Cables Limited (accessed 20 Oct 2026)
- [List of Compulsory Items to Meet Pakistan Standards](https://www.psqca.com.pk/confirmity-assessment-ca/list-of-compulsory-item-to-meet-pakistan-standards/), PSQCA (accessed 20 Oct 2026)
- [HSU-20HFTEX 1.5-ton DC inverter specifications](https://www.haier.com/pk/air-conditioners/hsu-20hftex023wdc-ow--t3plus.shtml), Haier Pakistan (accessed 18 Oct 2026)
- [Urban Inter-City Consumer Prices of Construction and Energy Items, September 2026](https://www.pbs.gov.pk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Urbn-Construction-11.xlsx), Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (accessed 18 Oct 2026)