Seismic Hazard Assessment of the NW Himalayan Fold-and-Thrust Belt, Pakistan, Using Probabilistic Approach

The Seismic Hazard Assessment (SHA) based on probabilistic approach has been carried out for the entire seismically active NW Himalayan Fold and Thrust Belt in Pakistan. Additional information in the form of earthquake catalog, delineation of 41 active faults in a structural map, their relationship to the seismicity, and establishment of seismotectonic zones has also been undertaken. From the distribution of the 813 events within the study area, it appears that seismicity (≥4.0 Mw) is associated with both surface and blind faults. The clustering of events in specific parts along the surface faults shows that some fault segments, especially in the hinterland zone, are more active. In parts of the active deformational front, like the Salt Range, southern Potwar and Bannu, lesser seismic activity (≥4.0 Mw) could be due to damping effect of the thick Precambrian salt. A majority of the earthquakes (86%) range in magnitude from 4.0 to 4.9 Mw, followed by 107 events (13%) ranging from 5.0 to 5.9 Mw. The remaini...