The Sindh government is concerned and all for ascertaining the extent of human and infrastructural damages and possible remedies as low-intensity earthquakes frequent Karachi, the country’s most congested city.
On Wednesday, Information Minister Shazia Marri told the Sindh Assembly that she was in contact with seismic experts at the NED University to ascertain the nature of the minor jolts that rocked the metropolitan several times this month. The minister said the experts at the varsity had formed a special committee to study the “city scenario” keeping in mind Karachi’s setting on certain vulnerable plates. The people of the metropolis are also believed to be apprehensive of a devastating natural disaster in consequence of these small jolts, given that the city’s vulnerable situation on a coastal belt where, the experts say, an underground seismic activity is more likely. “The committee would determine if, God forbid, a big quake hits Karachi, what would be the extent of damage and its impact on our economy,” Marri said. Her statement came in response to the concern expressed by Pakistan People’s Party lawmaker Anwar Khan Maher a day earlier over the low-intensity earthquakes jolting the city of 18 million people. However, referring to her initial inquiries, the information minister said these earthquakes, were not of a dangerous nature. “These minor jolts are not ‘bad jolts’ as they release energy and are not worrisome,” the minister quoted the seismic experts at the NED University.
The minister, however, warned against complacency, saying one should keep in mind any “precarious conditions” that could arise due to the city’s unique geographical location. Responding to another point of order raised by a Muttahida Qaumi Movement lawmaker, Marri clarified that the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) had stopped issuing and processing applications for new computerised national identity cards (CNICs) to meet the self-set deadline of February 5 in line with the Election Commission of Pakistan’s order to prepare the voter list. She said NADRA is issuing CNICs through certain vehicles parked outside its offices, and there might be delays, but they are not confined to only Karachi, as the situation exists across the province.
