Rewire Your House After a Fire or Short Circuit in Pakistan: The Test Report You Must File
After a fire or short circuit in Pakistan, rewiring needs an authorised contractor and a fresh wiring test report for your electricity company. Read the rules.
If a short circuit or fire forces you to rewire your house in Pakistan, NEPRA's rules say you must give the electricity company a fresh wiring test report. The report comes from an Electric Inspector or his authorised wiring contractor. Only an authorised contractor may alter your wiring, and a breach can lead to disconnection.
A burnt switchboard is a bad night. The next morning, a neighbour's electrician offers to redo the wires for cash. That is where the rules matter. We read the safety chapter of NEPRA's Consumer Service Manual, the rulebook for every electricity company, and set out what it asks of you after a fire or short circuit.
A fresh test report is required after any rewiring
Clause 12.3.8 of the manual says that if a consumer has to rewire for any reason, including a fire or short circuit, a wiring test report must be given to the company afresh. The report must be issued by the Electric Inspector or his authorised wiring contractor.
An Electric Inspector is a government officer who checks electrical installations. An authorised wiring contractor is a private contractor licensed to certify wiring on the inspector's behalf. Ask to see the licence before you hire one.
The old test report on your file no longer covers new wiring. The company needs a new one for the work you have just done.
Only an authorised contractor may change your wiring
Clause 12.3.4 says no addition, alteration, repair or adjustment to an existing installation may be done except by an authorised wiring contractor. Clause 12.3.1 adds that even a small installation, including earthing, must be done by a competent engineer or authorised contractor, then inspected and certified by an Electric Inspector.
The manual allows you to do a short list yourself. You may replace lamps, fans, fuses, switches, low voltage domestic appliances and fittings, as long as the change does not alter the capacity or character of the installation. Anything bigger needs a contractor.
| Job | Who may do it under the manual |
|---|---|
| Replace a bulb, fan, fuse or switch | You, if capacity does not change |
| Replace a burnt switchboard or cable | Authorised wiring contractor |
| Rewire a room after a short circuit | Authorised contractor, then a fresh test report |
| Add earthing | Authorised contractor, inspected and certified |
| Add a new circuit for a heavy appliance | Authorised contractor, then inspection |
If you break these rules, clause 12.3.6 says you make yourself liable for disconnection and legal action. That is why a cash job by an unlicensed worker can cost more than it saves.
Six steps from the burnt wire to a signed report
- Switch off at the main breaker and keep everyone away until the wiring is checked.
- Photograph the damage before anything is removed. You may need the pictures for a claim or a complaint.
- Hire an authorised wiring contractor and ask for the licence number.
- Use goods that meet the approved standard. Clause 12.3.2 says wiring material and equipment must conform to the relevant approved standards and be of good quality.
- Get the contractor to test and sign the report for the new wiring.
- Send the report to your sub division office and keep a stamped copy.
Our guide to checking a PSQCA licence before you buy cable shows how to confirm the cable itself is approved before the contractor fits it.
Where a fire started in the meter or the pole
Not every fire starts inside your house. If the wire that sparked was on the company's side, the pole, the service cable or the meter, the company should come out. The manual lists damaged or faulty insulators, broken strands, fallen wires, leaning poles and faulty transformer structures as hazards to report at once.
Our guide to how to report a fallen wire, sparking pole or low voltage has the helplines and the NEPRA route. Reporting early also puts a date on the record if there is a dispute about who caused the damage.
The manual is firm on one point. In the case of a fatal electrical accident, clause 12.3.5 says an immediate report must also be made to the nearest police station and to the company's complaint centre.
Fit protection so it does not happen again
The manual's safety tips are plain. Residual current devices, also called earth leakage breakers, can prevent fires and shocks, and you should get specialist advice on where to fit them. It says to use proper circuit breakers in preference to rewirable fuse cut-outs.
It also warns that electricity is more dangerous near water. During rain, around tanks, and for wedding lighting, wiring and RCDs need extra care and regular checks. Do not tie animals to poles or stay wires. Do not use metal or chemical kite string, which can damage lines.
If you plan to add an AC or a geyser during the rewiring, tell the contractor the new total load. A bigger load may need a change to your sanctioned load, which our guide to extending electricity load in Pakistan explains.
If the company will not reconnect without a report
If the company cut your supply after the incident, you will probably need the fresh test report before it restores power. Our guide to reconnecting electricity after disconnection explains the steps and fees. If you meet every requirement and the company still delays, you can escalate to NEPRA.
Keep the signed report, the contractor's licence number and the receipts together. They are your proof that the wiring is certified.
Common questions
Do I need a new wiring test report after a short circuit?
Yes, if you rewire. Clause 12.3.8 of NEPRA's manual says a fresh report from an Electric Inspector or his authorised contractor must go to the company.
Can any electrician rewire my house?
No. The manual says additions, alterations and repairs must be done by an authorised wiring contractor, except replacing lamps, fans, fuses, switches and similar fittings.
What happens if I rewire without a licensed contractor?
The manual says you become liable for disconnection of power and legal action. You would also lack the certified test report the company asks for.
Who is an Electric Inspector?
An Electric Inspector is an officer who inspects and certifies electrical installations. The manual names the Electric Inspector, or his authorised wiring contractor, as the source of the test report.
Should I report a fatal electrical accident?
Yes. Clause 12.3.5 requires an immediate report to the nearest police station and to the electricity company's complaint centre.
Are RCDs compulsory in a home?
The manual does not make them compulsory in the text we read. It strongly advises them, especially near water, and asks you to take specialist advice.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 11 October 2026. We read Chapter 12 and clause 2.11 of NEPRA's Consumer Service Manual, as on 26 November 2025, in a copy published by a distribution company. We did not call an Electric Inspector's office, and we did not verify any inspection fee or time, so none is given. Confirm the current process with your sub division and on nepra.org.pk.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
