ISLAMABAD, March 24: Seismic experts on Saturday said that a large area of Pakistan was prone to massive earthquakes.

Speaking at a research symposium on seismotectonics and seismic hazards in Pakistan, organized by the Geological Survey of Pakistan, they said Pakistan was amongst the countries in the region that were exposed to natural hazards such as earthquakes and landslides.

Natural disasters exert an enormous toll on development, disrupting the economic life of many societies, damaging human settlements and infrastructure, they said and stressed on the need of research on geological hazards and measures to cope with them.

Leading researchers from USA, France, Japan and Pakistan participated in the event to review what they had learnt from the 2005 earthquake in the region and discuss what they can do to reduce risk and vulnerability to hazards and to meet the challenges of disaster recovery.

It was observed that active tectonics research had progressed well in recent decades.

Secretary Petroleum and Natural Resources Ahmad Waqar in his inaugural address said in many countries including Pakistan disasters caused by natural and environmental hazards continue to exact a heavy toll in terms of loss of human lives and destruction of economic and social infrastructures.

He stresses on the need for coming together to study seismic hazards, structural geology, tectonics and geodynamics to find ways to take advantage of latest advancement in earthquake engineering and space technologies for hazard mitigation.

Without naming any country, he invited the neighbours to join hands with Pakistan in this noble cause. He was of the view that it was necessary to mobilise the knowledge of technological and engineering know-how to assess earthquake hazards and strengthen disaster mitigation measures.

Mr Waqar said the government had already taken many steps to formulate a comprehensive strategy to cope with natural disasters.

Director-General Geological Survey of Pakistan Mirza Talib Hasan said the Himalayan region is the source of great seismic strain due to slapping of tectonic plate carrying India under the Asian plate around two meters per century. He said the seismic stresses thus have generated and could still cause earthquakes of high magnitude in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

He said the optimal use of data for regional monitoring was a major challenge that will require the exchange of data, software and expertise among the interested nations.