Implementing GIS-Based Cadastral and Land Information System in Pakistan

Zahir ALI1,2, Muhammad SHAKIR3
1 Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), Karachi, PAKISTAN
2 University of Twente, Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), Enschede, THE NETHERLANDS
3 National Center for Remote Sensing and Geo-Informatics (NCRG), Institute of Space Technology, Karachi, PAKISTAN
E-mail: zali@itc.nl, seezahir@yahoo.com, mshakirgeo@gmail.com  
Pages: 43-49

Abstract. The need for information, which is the basic necessity for carrying out any planning, development and management activity, can hardly be over-emphasized. With regard to the developing nations with inadequate resources, the need for having a reliable information base is even more important. The absence of the proper land records in the real land market is another difficulty being faced by many developing countries. The reason may be unclear delimitation of individual or group rights, insecure ownership etc. The necessity for a functioning land market opens the way not only for private development but also for public land acquisition and other means of ensuring that land is available for dwelling and other urban needs. In this way the development and implementation of country-wide digital cadastral information system is an area that needs urgent attention. It is felt that there is a need to at least initiate efforts towards achieving this formidable task in an organised manner. These initial efforts would pave the way to achieve the desired goals in the years to come and would take us out of this status quo situation. With the above background, this paper highlights all the constraints and limitations that will be encountered in the process of integrating legal and geometric cadastral information to develop a new digital cadastral system.

K e y w o r d s:  land administration system, GIS, cadastral data sources, organisational requirements, human resource development, future challenges