KARACHI – A large number of people gathered near the Korangi Causeway in Malir River after rumors spread on social media about the discovery of gold particles in the area.
According to media reports, people arrived with digging tools and started searching for gold by digging pits near the river. Videos circulating on social media showed men, women, and children searching for gold particles at different spots along the causeway.
SHO Korangi Industrial Area, Muhammad Ali Niazi, said that the crowd gathered after the videos went viral on social media.
He added that during the investigation, it was found that the shiny pieces seen in the garbage were actually brass fragments, not gold. However, the misleading videos created confusion and attracted large crowds of citizens hoping to find gold.
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Meanwhile, hundreds of residents — carrying spades, sieves, and shovels — continued to gather along the riverbanks, turning the area into a modern-day gold rush. Many people were seen knee-deep in mud, scooping up sand and sifting through it under the afternoon sun.
Some participants claimed to have found glittering particles, though experts said that the authenticity of the so-called gold has not been verified. “The gold content of these particles has not been established,” a metallurgical analyst told Private Media.
Local officials urged citizens to remain cautious and avoid risking their safety based on unconfirmed reports. “People should not crowd the riverbanks or endanger themselves because of rumors,” a municipal official said.
By evening, as the crowds began to thin, the riverbanks were left covered with dug-up patches — a sign of the brief but intense gold fever that swept through Karachi’s industrial area.
