An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale jolted Pakistan in the early hours of Friday, according to the National Centre for Seismology.
The epicentre was recorded at a depth of 135 km.
“Earthquake of magnitude 5.2 struck Pakistan on November 21, 2025, at 03:09 IST. Epicentre: 36.12°N, 71.51°E, Depth: 135 km,” NCS tweeted.
Shallow earthquakes are generally more destructive than deep ones because seismic waves travel a shorter distance to the surface, causing stronger ground shaking and potentially greater damage and casualties.
Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India lie in one of the world’s most seismically active zones, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates converge. This collision zone makes the region prone to moderate to strong earthquakes, often felt across borders.
Pakistan is highly vulnerable due to several major fault lines. Provinces like Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan sit along the southern edge of the Eurasian plate, while Punjab and Sindh lie on the northwestern edge of the Indian plate. Balochistan, in particular, is near the active boundary between the Arabian and Eurasian plates, making it especially susceptible to violent earthquakes.
Even Sindh and Punjab, though relatively less active, remain at risk due to their tectonic positioning, highlighting the country’s ongoing vulnerability to seismic hazards.
