1767 – Survey of India (SOI) established under Major James Rennell
1802 – Commencement of Great Trigonometrical Survey (GTS) at St. Thomas Mount, Madras by Colonel William Lambton
1815 – Office of Surveyor General of India established
1830 –1840– Meridional Arc Survey completed from Cape Comorin to the Himalayan foothills
1878 – Survey of India reorganized into Trigonometrical, Topographical and Revenue Survey branches
1911 – Arc measurement links India and Great Britain (Greenwich–Kalianpur)
1930 – Commencement of the use of aerial photography to supplement ground surveys
1947 – Partition of India; Survey of India reorganized for independent Pakistan and India
After 1947
1964 – Establishment of the Geo-Informatics Center Quetta
1986 – Establishment of Survey Training Institute at Islamabad
1989 – Establishment of Geo-Informatics Center Peshawar
1994 – Establishment of Geo-Informatics Center Lahore
1999 - Commencement of digitization of map sheets using satellite imagery
2023 – Reorganization of the Department
2023 – Establishment of Directorate of Cartography & GIS
2024 - Commencement of using aerial photos from drones for large scale mapping
2024 – MoU with China for cooperation in surveying and mapping activities
2024 – Commencement of New Geodetic Datum Project
Our Future
The organization is moving toward a fully digital future with smart mapping, drones, AI and a National Spatial Data Infrastructure to unify geospatial information. These advancements will strengthen e-governance, support smart cities, improve sustainability and enhance public access to reliable data. With innovation and collaboration, Survey of Pakistan aims to remain the mapping authority of today while becoming a geospatial leader for tomorrow
