ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR: Moderate tremors were felt in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Saturday after an earthquake rattled several cities across northern Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC), the earthquake occurred at 12:31pm, with a magnitude of 5.5 and a reported depth of 12 kilometres. The epicentre was located 60 kilometres northwest of Rawalpindi, at latitude 33.90 N and longitude 72.66 E.

Cities of Punjab, including Attock and Chakwal, also reported tremors in the region. In KP, jolts were felt in Peshawar, Mardan, Mohmand, Swabi, Nowshera, Lakki Marwat, Lower Dir, Malakand, Shabqadar and other cities. However, no immediate reports of casualties or damage were received from the affected regions.On March 31, a 4.7-magnitude earthquake shook Karachi and nearby areas, according to the Met Office.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said the quake hit at 4:11 pm, with its epicentre 75 kilometres north of Karachi at a depth of 19 kilometres. A day later, on April 1, minor tremors measuring 3.9 were felt in the Barkhan district of Balochistan.

However no damage or injuries were reported, but the residents panicked after the tremors.

The latest quake caused panic among the residents of the twin cities, with many evacuating their residences and offices. “My building in sector F-11 swayed left and right. People rushed out of their homes,” said a resident of Islamabad.

Earthquakes are not uncommon in Pakistan, as the country is situated on the boundary of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Large parts of South Asia are seismically active as the Indian plate is pushing north into the Eurasian plate.