Active Fault System and the Related Seismicity in Pakistan

Earthquakes in Pakistan are generated along the active fault system due to neo-tectonic process, emerged from the colliding plate boundaries of the Indian, Eurasian and Arabian plates. Based on this progression many active seismic zones in Pakistan, e.g., the Hindu Kush-Karakoram and Indus-Kohistan seismic zones emerged. Consequently, the 8th October 2005 earthquake occurred along the Indus-Kohistan active seismic zone that killed more than 80000 people. The subsequent studies revealed that he causative faults for earthquakes are mainly active thrust faults with a strike slip component and purely the strike slip faults. Based on the seismic hazard zones, prepared after 8th October 2005 earthquake, Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan has been up-graded from Zone 2 to Zone 3 having “g” factor between 0.1-0.3 with moderate to severe damage.