6.1-magnitude earthquake shakes Islamabad, parts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The Pakistan Meteorological Department’s National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC) said that the earthquake was recorded at 9:13pm PST, with a depth of 190 kilometres. The epicentre was located in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region at latitude 36.48°N and longitude 70.84°E.

Residents across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Taxila, Peshawar, Faisalabad and Multan felt strong tremors, though no significant damage or casualties have been reported.

In Punjab, the quake was felt in Sargodha, Chakwal, Chiniot, Jhelum, Mianwali, Narowal, Bhakkar, Hafizabad, Khanewal, Mandi Bahauddin, and Kamalia.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa residents in Peshawar, Nowshera, Swat, Shangla, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Kohat, Malakand, Mardan, Hangu, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Upper Hazara, Buner, Banno, Bajaur, Tank, and Charsadda reported tremors.

Gilgit Baltistan also felt the quake in Gilgit, Skardu, and Diamer, while in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the tremors were reported in Muzaffarabad, Bhimber, Neelum Valley, Samahni, and Hattian Bala —including Channari, Chikothi, Gujjar Bandi, and Lipa.

Strong tremors were also felt in Afghanistan's Kabul and India's capital New Delhi, according to Reuters witnesses.

Pakistan's susceptibility to earthquakes stems from its location along the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The country has experienced multiple devastating quakes in recent decades.

In February this year, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake rattled Islamabad, Swat, and Hunza, while the 2005 quake in Azad Kashmir killed over 73,000 people and left millions homeless. Balochistan also suffered in 2021, when a quake in Harnai killed at least 20 people and hampered rescue operations due to landslides.

Experts warn that the rugged terrain of Pakistan’s earthquake-prone areas complicates relief efforts and makes preparedness critical.