5.3 magnitude earthquake hits Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - A mild earthquake measuring 5.3 at Richter scale hit parts of northern and northwestern Pakistan on Sunday evening, local meteorological office said.

The tremors were felt in Peshawar of the country's northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and its adjoining areas including Swat, Malakand and Nowshera.

The earthquake also jolted capital city Islamabad, its sister city Rawalpindi and other adjoining areas.

The epicenter of the earthquake was determined as Tajikistan-Afghanistan border located at an estimated of 500 km northwest of Pakistani capital Islamabad.

The earthquake created panic among the people, however, no loss of life has been reported.

Northwestern Pakistan is located in one of the most earthquake prone zones of the world with high vulnerability to earthquakes.

Geographically, Pakistan lies in the collision zone of the India tectonic plate to the south and the Eurasian plate to the north.