5.2 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Pakistan: Understanding the Seismic Activity in South Asian Collision Zone

Pakistan Earthquake: The epicentre of the earthquake was located at a depth of 135 km.

Islamabad:

An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale struck Pakistan early Friday morning, according to the National Centre for Seismology.

The earthquake's epicentre was detected at a depth of 135 km.

EQ of M: 5.2, On: 21/11/2025 03:09:12 IST, Lat: 36.12 N, Long: 71.51 E, Depth: 135 Km, Location: Pakistan. For more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/5gCOtjdtw0 @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @Ravi_MoES @Dr_Mishra1966 @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/teLa9W1bfs

— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) November 20, 2025

Shallow earthquakes typically pose greater danger than deep ones. This is because seismic waves from shallow earthquakes travel shorter distances to the surface, resulting in more intense ground shaking, potentially causing more structural damage and higher casualties.

Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India are situated in one of the world's most seismically active regions, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates converge. The area regularly experiences moderate to strong earthquakes, often felt across national boundaries due to the proximity of fault lines.

Pakistan ranks among the world's most seismically active countries, intersected by several major fault lines.

This collision zone renders the country highly susceptible to powerful earthquakes. Provinces including Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan are positioned on the southern edge of the Eurasian plate, while Sindh and Punjab sit on the northwestern edge of the Indian plate, contributing to the country's frequent seismic activity.

Balochistan is situated near the active boundary between the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Other vulnerable areas, such as Punjab located on the northwestern edge of the Indian plate, are prone to seismic activity. Sindh, though relatively less affected, remains at risk due to its geographical position.