A published April 2026 example for a 1,125 sq ft 5 Marla RCC slab totals PKR 685,258, about PKR 609/sq ft. At that same historical unit rate, a 900 sq ft slab would be PKR 548,100. This is a dated comparison only: current steel, concrete, shuttering, pump and labour quotes plus the engineer's design determine the real amount.
Calculate concrete volume from drawings
A historical example, not today's slab quote
The PKR 685,258 total comes from one April 2026 published example. The PKR 609/sq ft figure is rounded and does not establish a rate for your slab design or purchase date.
Assumed slab area
A 5 Marla plot is not automatically a 1,125 sq ft slab. The roof may cover less because of setbacks, open-to-sky areas, stair openings, terraces and plan geometry. The worked sensitivity uses two clearly labelled slab areas.
Published example = PKR 685,258 ÷ 1,125 sq ft = about PKR 609/sq ft
900 sq ft sensitivity = 900 × PKR 609 = PKR 548,100
1,125 sq ft sensitivity = 1,125 × PKR 609 = PKR 685,125 (rounding differs from the item total)
What a slab quotation must state
| Item | What to define |
|---|---|
| Structural design | Engineer-approved drawings, slab system, thickness and design notes for this building |
| Reinforcement | Grade, approved bar schedule, cutting/bending, chairs, binding wire and testing |
| Concrete | Specified grade or mix design, quantity, supplier, cube/slump tests where required |
| Shuttering | Area, supports, edge forms, openings, duration and safe removal sequence |
| Placement | Ready-mix or site mixing, pump or lift charges, labour, vibration and finishing |
| Aftercare | Curing method and duration, protection, inspection and waterproofing scope |
Why the price changes
- Slab area and geometry, cantilevers, beams, openings and stair headroom.
- Engineer-specified concrete grade, reinforcement quantity and testing.
- Steel, cement, sand and crush prices on the purchase date.
- Shuttering system, height, reuse, access and rental duration.
- Concrete pump, mixer, generator, water, labour, transport and night-pour arrangements.
- Whether electrical conduits, sleeves, rainwater outlets, insulation or waterproofing are in the slab package.
Structural safety boundary
This page does not provide bar diameter, spacing, lap, slab thickness or concrete-design instructions. Those choices depend on spans, loads, supports, seismic requirements and the complete structural system and must be made by the project's structural engineer.
Before approving payment
- Measure the actual slab and beam areas from the latest drawings.
- Match delivered steel and concrete records to the approved design and purchase documents.
- Record concealed conduits, openings and inspection approval before the pour.
- Agree how quantities, unused materials and variations will be reconciled.
- Keep pour, testing and curing records with photographs and dates.
Build the quote from quantities
A useful lanter quotation keeps the main quantities visible. Ask for the concrete volume from the drawings, reinforcement weight from the approved bar schedule, shuttering measurement and separately charged placement work.
Slab package = concrete quantity × agreed delivered rate
+ scheduled steel weight × agreed supply/fabrication rate
+ measured shuttering × agreed rate
+ explicitly excluded placement, testing, curing and transport
Check each rate's included work before adding the next line. Ready-mix supply and pump hire may be separate, while another supplier may bundle them. Reinforcement fabrication or binding wire might already sit in a subcontract sum. The quotation should make that visible.
Separate a price increase from a design change
If an approved bar schedule contains 1,200 kg of reinforcement and the quoted rate increases by PKR 10/kg, the steel price change is PKR 12,000. The 1,200 kg is an invented arithmetic input, not a steel allowance for a 5 Marla roof.
If the drawing changes and the approved quantity changes too, calculate that effect separately. Reducing reinforcement to recover a price increase is not a budgeting adjustment; any structural change belongs with the engineer.
Agree where the lanter package ends
Mark whether beams, slab edges, the stair flight, roof stair room and any projections belong to this pour and quotation. Ask how openings are measured and who provides sleeves or conduits before casting. A flat slab-area price can leave those boundaries unclear.
After the pour, the roof may still need waterproofing, falls, outlets, insulation or a finished terrace surface. Keep these in an explicit included or excluded list. Paying for the concrete stage alone does not establish that the roof is complete or watertight.
The records worth keeping
Save the latest approved drawings, material delivery slips, pre-pour inspection record, concrete delivery or batch records, agreed test results and curing record. Compare the final bill with measured work and agreed variations. Photographs help document progress, but they do not replace the project's inspections or test records.
Questions people ask
What is the cost of a 5 Marla lanter in Pakistan?
One April 2026 published example is PKR 685,258 for 1,125 sq ft, or about PKR 609/sq ft. Reprice the engineer-designed slab with current local quotes.
Is lanter the complete grey structure?
No. It commonly refers to the RCC roof or floor slab. Foundations, masonry, plaster, stairs, services and other grey works are separate.
How much steel should I use?
Use only the bar schedule and details approved by the project's structural engineer. A generic per-square-foot rule is not a safe reinforcement design.
Can I use the same lanter rate for every 5 Marla house?
No. Actual roof area, spans, beams, openings, engineer-designed reinforcement, concrete specification and site access can differ. Price the approved quantities and the written scope.
Sources and limitations
- Civil Construction Guide — 5 Marla RCC slab costPublished 20 April 2026; example assumes a 1,125 sq ft slab and totals PKR 685,258, about PKR 609/sq ft. It is a published example, not an engineered quotation.
- Pakistan Engineering Council — Building Code of PakistanOfficial technical context; a cost guide does not replace structural design or approval by the authority having jurisdiction.
Prices are observations or published estimates, not guaranteed transaction values or quotations. Source scope and dates are stated so a reviewer can repeat the check.