A 5.9-magnitude earthquake jolted several parts of Pakistan on Saturday evening, including Punjab, Islamabad and areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The tremors prompted authorities to inspect buildings for potential damage. No immediate reports of casualties or major destruction were confirmed.
Islamabad and surrounding areas experienced strong shaking as the earthquake struck at 6:35pm. In Punjab, major cities including Lahore, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan and Chakwal were affected. Residents rushed out of homes and offices as the tremors spread across the region.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the earthquake originated in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region. It had a magnitude of 5.9 and occurred at a depth of around 178 kilometres. Tremors were also reported in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Swat, Shangla and Mansehra.
The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority said district administrations had begun inspecting buildings for any possible structural damage. Emergency control rooms remained operational across the province. Officials confirmed that monitoring systems were active in all affected regions.
Earlier in the week, multiple earthquakes had already been recorded in Balochistan, including tremors measuring up to 5.1 magnitude. Authorities continue to monitor seismic activity across Pakistan and surrounding regions as precautionary checks continue.