An earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale hit Pakistan on Monday, May 12, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS).
Shallow Depth Raises Aftershock Concerns
The quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers, making the region vulnerable to potential aftershocks. Sharing the data on X (formerly Twitter), the NCS posted:
“EQ of M: 4.6, On: 12/05/2025 13:26:32 IST, Lat: 29.12 N, Long: 67.26 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Pakistan.”
Pakistan Lies in a High Seismic Risk Zone
Pakistan remains one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, as it is crisscrossed by multiple major fault lines. The nation lies on the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, leading to frequent and sometimes devastating seismic activity.
The provinces of Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas sit atop the southern edge of the Eurasian plate, situated on the Iranian Plateau. Meanwhile, Sindh, Punjab, and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir lie on the northwestern boundary of the Indian plate.
This tectonic overlap explains the recurring and often violent earthquakes that affect the region.
