6.3-magnitude earthquake shakes Islamabad, Lahore, KP, AJK and GB

• Tremors felt across twin cities, Potohar region, Chitral, Swat, Shangla, and parts of Punjab

• Epicentre located in Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan at 190 km depth

• No casualties or major damage reported in Punjab, KP, or federal capital

  ISLAMABAD/LAHORE/PESHAWAR: A strong earthquake of 6.3 magnitude on the Richter scale shook parts of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and districts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported.

No casualties or major damage to property reported in Punjab, KP, or federal capital till filing of this report.

According to the National Seismic Monitoring Centre (NSMC) at PMD, the tremor struck at 9:13 pm at a depth of 190 km, with the Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan identified as its epicentre. The shocks were felt in the twin cities, Chitral, Peshawar, Swat, Shangla, and multiple districts of Punjab.

🚨 A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region Friday evening, the PMD says. Tremors felt in Islamabad, Peshawar, Swat and nearby areas. No damage reported yet. pic.twitter.com/adNpnqeUPc

— Pakistan TV Digital (@PakistanTVcom) April 3, 2026

The German Research Centre for Geosciences, using the Moment Magnitude scale, reported the earthquake as 5.9 in magnitude, originating from a depth of 177 km in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region.

Severe tremors were felt in Islamabad, prompting the capital’s police to take precautionary measures. Inspector General of Police Ali Nasir Rizvi directed all officers to assess conditions in their respective areas and respond immediately to any incidents requiring assistance. Officers were also instructed to submit situation reports without delay.

An earthquake recorded on 03-04-2026 at 21:13 PST Mag: 6.3 Depth: 190 Km
Lat: 36.48 °N Long: 70.84 °E Epicenter: Hindu Kush Region Afghanistan.
Felt Report: Islamabad,Chitral, Peshawar, Swat, Shangla,etc
PMD ISLAMABAD.#Earthquake #HinduKush #Afghanistan #Pakistan #Islamabad… pic.twitter.com/vncSO8ezZB

— APP (@appcsocialmedia) April 3, 2026

Rawalpindi Rescue 1122 officials confirmed that no casualties or emergencies were reported in the city following the tremor.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi said the earthquake was felt across multiple districts, including Peshawar. “However, the control room has not received any calls regarding damage to life or property,” he added.

Similarly, Punjab’s Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported no loss of life or property across the province. Tremors were felt in Lahore, Mianwali, Jhang, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, the Potohar region, Sargodha, and other districts. The PDMA said inspections of government and public buildings are underway to assess potential damage, while provincial and district emergency operation centres remain operational 24/7 to respond to any incidents. The public has been advised to report earthquake-related damages via the PDMA helpline at 1129.

Earlier on Friday, the German Research Centre for Geosciences reported a separate earthquake of magnitude 5.5 near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border.

Last month, a moderate earthquake measuring 4.5 jolted Balochistan’s Khuzdar district and surrounding areas, while in February, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan, with tremors felt in Islamabad, Swat, Peshawar, Chitral, and other cities across Pakistan.