The risk of land subsidence has increased in the Landhi and Malir areas of Karachi, which may also increase the risk of earthquakes in the future. Geologists have warned that the excessive drainage of groundwater and the unplanned construction of high-rise buildings are weakening the ground.
A recent report by Singaporean geologists has revealed that the Malir and Landhi areas have sunk by 15.7 centimeters between 2014 and 2020. According to the report, this rate of land subsidence is considered one of the fastest sinking cities in the world, second only to the Chinese city of Tianjin.
According to experts, Karachi’s location near the junction of three major tectonic plates, the Indian, Eurasian, and Arabian plates, also makes this process dangerous.
The report recommends that desalination plants be set up immediately in Karachi to reduce dependence on groundwater. It also recommends banning the construction of high-rise buildings to avoid placing an additional burden on the land.
