ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s $12.9 million China-funded project to modernise its national surveying and mapping system is progressing, with customs duty exemptions being processed for another shipment of specialised equipment, according to an official document.
The New Generation Geodetic Datum project, being implemented by the Survey of Pakistan under the Ministry of Defence, aims to improve the accuracy of geographic coordinates used in infrastructure development, land surveys, engineering and satellite-based positioning.
The document, available with INP-Wealth Pakistan, shows that customs clearance arrangements for the ninth consignment of project equipment are underway. The matter has been referred to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for necessary action on duty exemptions.
China has committed a grant of $12.895 million for the initiative under a bilateral agreement signed on May 13, 2017. The project remains under implementation and is scheduled for completion by June 30, 2027.
How the project will improve Pakistan’s mapping system
The initiative will establish a modern national geodetic reference system, which provides the precise geographic coordinates needed for accurate surveying, mapping and positioning.
Such a system is important for planning highways, railway networks, dams, urban infrastructure and other development projects where reliable geographic measurements are essential.
The upgraded framework is also expected to improve the Survey of Pakistan’s technical capabilities and strengthen the quality of geographic information available to government departments and development agencies.
More accurate spatial data can support land administration, disaster risk assessment, environmental monitoring and natural resource management.
The project is also relevant to Pakistan’s increasing use of geographic information systems and digital mapping in public-sector planning.
By improving the consistency of geographic coordinates, the new system is intended to help institutions work with more reliable mapping information across different projects and locations.
Equipment shipment awaits customs exemption
The latest development concerns the ninth consignment of specialised equipment required for the project.
According to the official document, the exemption of customs duties on the shipment is still being processed, with the relevant matter communicated to the FBR.
The document does not specify when the exemption will be approved or when the equipment will be delivered and installed.
Once completed, the Chinese grant-supported initiative is expected to provide Pakistan with an updated national geographic reference framework, supporting more precise surveying and infrastructure planning.
The project is scheduled to be completed by June 30, 2027.