Digitalization of Land Records and Its Impact on General Public Through E-Registration: A Study of E-Registration / Sub-Registrar Offices District Faisalabad

Abstract

The digitalization of land records has become a critical development in modernizing land administration systems across the globe. In Pakistan, land-related disputes, inefficiencies, and corruption have long been challenges that hinder the effectiveness of land services. The shift to digital land registration systems offers an opportunity to streamline land processes, improve public access to land information, and enhance transparency and accountability in land administration. This study explores the impact of e-registration of land records in District Faisalabad, Pakistan, focusing on how various factors influence the general public's perceptions of the system, including perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU), access to information (AI), transparency (T), and accountability (A). Furthermore, the study investigates how socio-economic status (SES), education level (EL), and computer literacy (CL) moderate or mediate these relationships. The research utilizes a quantitative approach, surveying 500 respondents from different socio-economic backgrounds in Faisalabad. The findings indicate a positive perception of the digitalization of land records. The majority of respondents (mean score of 4.10 for DLR) report high satisfaction with the system, particularly regarding the accessibility and efficiency of land-related services. Significant positive relationships were found between digitalization and public trust (Chi-Square p-value = 0.000), with transparency and accountability emerging as crucial drivers of public satisfaction. The Gamma test shows a strong positive relationship between DLR and public impact (Gamma = +0.68, p < 0.01), indicating that the more useful and accessible the system is perceived to be, the greater the public’s satisfaction with it. Moreover, the study found that socio-economic factors such as education and computer literacy significantly influence users' experiences with the system. This study’s findings have important implications for policy-makers and administrators. It highlights the need for continued improvements in transparency, accountability, and system usability to ensure that the benefits of digital land registration are realized by all segments of society. Lastly, the study calls for future research to assess the long-term sustainability of digital land registration and explore the potential of incorporating emerging technologies, such as block-chain or artificial intelligence, to further enhance security, automation, and transparency in land administration.

Key Words: Digitalization, Land Records, E-Registration, District Faisalabad.