Pakistan's GOLD Hunt Scheme Goes Viral: Karachi Citizens Dig For Glory, Find Mud Instead

Karachi Malir River Gold Hunt: A wave of excitement swept through Karachi over the weekend when whispers of gold buried in the sand of the Malir River drove hundreds of locals to the Korangi Causeway. With shovels, spades, and metal sieves in hand, locals flocked there in thousands, praying to hit paydirt.

Frenzy started after some people's social media videos went viral as they scooped up river sand and found what looked like gold-like shiny particles. Men, women, and kids swarmed to the spot within hours, turning the normally deserted riverbank into something akin to a gold rush. “I saw people pulling shiny grains from the sand and shouting that they found gold,” said a local resident who recorded one of the viral videos. “It spread so fast that by afternoon, the entire area was crowded.”

Experts Urge Caution

As the city was filled with excitement, officials and experts were quick to caution. Metallurgy experts indicated that so-called gold particles had not been tested or confirmed yet.

“There is no confirmed evidence that what people are finding is real gold, It could easily be mica, pyrite, or other shiny minerals often mistaken for gold,” a senior metallurgical analyst told The Express Tribune.

The Karachi municipal authorities also issued warnings, advising citizens to stay away from unverified claims circulating online. “People should avoid gathering in large numbers near the causeway or digging near the river,” said a city official. “These areas can be unsafe, especially during the monsoon season when the riverbed remains unstable.”

Families Join Gold Hunt

The sight of families and children wading knee-deep in mud, scooping up handfuls of sand under the blazing sun, turned the episode into both a social media spectacle and a community event. Some participants said they came out of curiosity, while others genuinely believed they might uncover gold.

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Online videos depict crowds of individuals using makeshift pans to search through damp sand, scrutinizing every glinting speck of sand in the sunlight. For others, it was a mix of excitement, adventure, and social media stardom.

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By evening, the crowds began to disperse, leaving behind dug-up pits and mounds of disturbed earth across the riverbanks. The once-bustling site resembled an abandoned excavation zone, marking the end of a day fueled by hopes of quick fortune. Thus For now, Karachi’s so-called “gold rush” remains more myth than reality, a fleeting moment of viral fascination that turned an ordinary riverbank into the city’s most talked-about treasure hunt.