Check Cement, Steel Bars, Pipes and Taps for a PSQCA Licence in Pakistan

Short answer: PSQCA lists Portland cement, steel reinforcement bars, PVC and polyethylene pipes and sanitary taps on its compulsory items page. Before you buy for a house, ask the supplier for the maker's PSQCA licence number and search it free at icq.psqca.com.pk.

A house is the biggest purchase most families make. The walls stay for fifty years, and so do the mistakes inside them. Weak steel or poor cement cannot be fixed with a coat of paint.

We read PSQCA's compulsory items page on 14 October 2026. This guide covers the building materials on it. We did not search any brand's licence today, so we do not say which makers hold one.

PSQCA lists cement, steel bars, pipes and taps as compulsory items

The page names five cement types, three steel bar types, several water and gas pipes, sanitary taps and a concrete chemical admixture. Each has its own standard number. These are the materials a builder buys by the truckload, so one licence check covers a lot of money.

The same page also lists white Portland cement, masonry cement, blast furnace cement, polyethylene water pipes and polypropylene pipes. One pipe entry has a title that does not match its linked file, so rely on the supplier's licence rather than the link.

Steel bars and cement carry the structure

Steel bars and cement hold the weight of the house, so check these two first. If your engineer or contractor names a brand, ask for its PSQCA licence number in writing before the first delivery. A licence does not replace testing, but it gives you something to point to.

Taps and pipes matter in a different way. A cheap pipe cracks inside a wall and leaks for months before anyone sees it. Ask the plumber which standard the pipe meets, and match it to the table above.

If you are borrowing to build, the stages and lenders are in our guide to a home loan to build a house in Pakistan. Spend the first instalment carefully: materials are where bills grow.

Four steps check a building material licence

Ask the supplier for the maker's name and licence number. Open PSQCA's licence tool, pick the product or type the maker, and read the status and valid up to columns. A Valid status and a future date are what you want. Do it before the first delivery.

1. Ask the supplier for the maker's name and licence number, and note the brand printed on the bag, bar or pipe.
2. Open the CM License Verification page at icq.psqca.com.pk.
3. Pick the material from the list, or type the maker's name, and search.
4. Check the brand matches what was delivered and the valid up to date is in the future.

When we searched gas appliances on this tool on 2 October 2026, all records showed expired while some cable licences were valid. So the tool can lag, and one blank result is a reason to ask, not proof of a fake. The result is in our guide to checking a PSQCA licence.

Keep delivery papers and check the weight

A licence is about the maker. It does not tell you what is on your truck. Keep the delivery slip, count the bags, and check that the brand on the bag matches the order. Photograph the load as it arrives.

If a shop weighs your order wrongly or shows a price tag that does not match the bill, the steps for that are in how to report a tampered scale or wrong price tag. And if a price jumps overnight, see how to report overcharging in Punjab.

After the wiring goes in, test it. A fire or short circuit is costly, and our guide to rewiring a house and getting a test report shows what a proper report looks like.

Put the checks in your contract. Write the brand and the standard number of the cement, steel and pipe into the agreement with your contractor, and say that substitutions need your written consent. Many disputes begin when a cheaper brand quietly replaces the one that was priced. A short line in the contract costs nothing and gives you a clear point to argue from later.

Common questions

Is cement on the PSQCA compulsory list?

Yes. PSQCA lists Portland cement under PS 232 and several other cement types. Ask for the maker's licence number.

Are steel bars covered?

Yes. PSQCA lists mild steel bars (PS 231), deformed and plain billet steel bars (PS 1879) and cold worked deformed bars (PS 1612).

Do water pipes need a licence?

PSQCA lists PVC pressure pipes for cold potable water under PS 3051 and polyethylene pipes for water supply under PS 3580-2014. Ask the plumber which one he fits.

Are taps on the list?

Yes. PSQCA lists sanitary taps under PS 4846-2007.

Does a licence prove the steel is strong?

No. A licence shows the maker passed a standard. Use delivery slips and ask your engineer about on-site testing.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 14 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read PSQCA's list of compulsory items and the CM License Verification page. One pipe entry has a mismatched title and file, and we could not read PSQCA's complaint pages. We did not search any brand licence today.