A moderate earthquake jolted the federal capital of Islamabad and several cities in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces on Wednesday afternoon.

The magnitude of the earthquake was recorded at 5.7, according to Pakistan Seismeiology Center.

Strong tremors of the earthquake were felt in Islamabad, Peshawar, Mardan, Swat, Swabi, Kohat, Haripur, Attock and other districts of the country.

The earthquake caused fear and panic among people who came out of their homes, shops and offices reciting the Kalima Tayyaba.

According to the seismological center, the depth of the earthquake was 187 km, and its epicenter was in the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan.