KARACHI – In a city long plagued by chronic water shortages, underground water boring has become a lifeline for many residents and industries. But experts are now raising red flags, warning that the unchecked extraction of groundwater could be quietly setting the stage for a far more devastating crisis — land subsidence and an increased risk of earthquake damage.
Since June 1st, eastern parts of Karachi — including Landhi, Malir, Korangi, and Quaidabad — have experienced at least 57 tremors, according to Chief Meteorologist Ameer Haider Laghari. Though mild in magnitude, ranging between 1.5 and 3.8 on the Richter scale, the frequent tremors have left residents increasingly anxious.
While a direct scientific link between the surge in seismic activity and widespread boring hasn’t been conclusively proven, a growing number of geologists and engineers suggest it’s a hypothesis that warrants urgent investigation.
“In areas like Landhi and Korangi, we’re observing land subsidence — in some cases up to 15 centimeters already — and an annual sinking rate of 1.5 centimeters,” revealed Dr. Adnan Khan, a geologist at the University of Karachi. “These are not just statistics. This kind of gradual sinkage undermines the structural integrity of buildings and infrastructure.”
Dr. Nauman Ahmed, a senior professor at NED University, explained that excessive groundwater extraction causes underground voids to form, weakening the earth’s natural foundations. “When you repeatedly remove large volumes of water from beneath the surface, you disrupt the equilibrium,” he said. “That creates pockets of instability, making these areas more vulnerable during seismic events.”
Residents in many parts of Karachi — particularly in unplanned or poorly serviced neighborhoods — have long relied on private water boring due to inadequate municipal supply. The rise of industrial RO (reverse osmosis) plants has only intensified this dependency, draining underground reserves at an unsustainable pace.
Dr. Masood Rafi, Chairman of Earthquake Engineering at NED University, pointed to the dual burden of excessive boring and uncontrolled construction. “You have thousands of tons of concrete and steel being built atop ground that’s hollowing out beneath,” he said. “That’s a dangerous combination. If we don’t regulate this practice, we may not need a major quake — even a moderate one could trigger catastrophic collapse.”
The geological concerns extend beyond local subsidence. Dr. Khan noted that Karachi lies just 110 kilometers from a seismic triple junction — a point where the Indian, Arabian, and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. While the city’s immediate fault lines are considered relatively stable, major seismic activity in neighboring regions like Balochistan or western India could still send destructive shockwaves through Karachi.
“This isn’t alarmism — it’s a matter of physics and geology,” he said. “If a major quake were to occur in those zones, Karachi’s vulnerable infrastructure, especially in areas affected by land sinking, could suffer immense damage.”
Experts across disciplines are now calling for a comprehensive geotechnical survey of Karachi’s most affected zones — particularly where boring is widespread — and for immediate government regulation to limit further damage.
“Water scarcity is real, and people are desperate,” Dr. Ahmed acknowledged. “But if we don’t act now, we may be trading today’s survival for tomorrow’s disaster.”
