In 25+ years of engineering — from road projects to the Ghazi Barotha Hydropower Project to corporate fit-outs — I have seen one pattern repeat: most construction disputes begin before the first brick is laid. They begin at the moment of hiring. Ask these seven questions before you sign, and you will avoid most of the problems people bring to us for rescue.
1. Are you PEC licensed — and in which category?
The Pakistan Engineering Council licenses constructors by category and scope. Ask for the license number and verify it on the PEC website. An unlicensed contractor may quote less, but you carry all the risk.
2. Who supervises my site daily — and what are their qualifications?
The person who impressed you in the meeting is rarely the person on your site at 8 a.m. Ask for the name and qualification of your dedicated site supervisor, and how often a qualified engineer inspects the work.
3. Can I see an itemised BOQ, not a lump sum?
A bill of quantities that lists materials, brands, quantities and rates protects both sides. A single lump-sum figure hides the substitutions that cause quality problems later.
4. Is the payment schedule tied to milestones?
Payments should follow completed, inspected work — foundation, grey structure, plaster, finishes — never the calendar. If a contractor asks for a large advance without a milestone plan, that is your answer.
5. Who owns delays, and what happens when they occur?
Every project meets surprises. The question is whether your agreement says what happens next: notice periods, recovery plans, and who bears the cost of contractor-caused delay.
6. What does safety look like on your sites?
A contractor who cannot describe their HSSE practices — helmets, access control, machinery protocols — will not suddenly discover safety on your project. Accidents cost lives first and schedules second.
7. Can I speak to two past clients — including one corporate?
Photographs can be borrowed; phone calls cannot. A contractor who has satisfied a bank, a brand or an institution has survived professional scrutiny. Ask for numbers and actually call.
The honest summary
Good contractors welcome these questions, because the questions filter out their weakest competitors. If asking them makes a contractor uncomfortable, you have learned what you needed to know — for free.