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

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:

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):

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.

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 for the rest of a solar setup.

Plan the rest of the build

Wiring is part of the finishing stage. For the total, see house construction cost in Pakistan and the contractor with material vs labour-only guide. For this month’s cement and steel, see construction material prices.

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