FAISALABAD: An explosion near an Army recruitment center in Faisal Abad, Pakistan killed at least 13 people and injured 40.
The nearby building were damaged severely by explosion, an office of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and a local gas station were severely damaged in the blast, AP reported.
Senior government official Naseem Sadiq said explosives were planted in a vehicle parked at the gas station, which also lies near police offices as well as the PIA building.
Police cordoned off the site of the blast and rescue officials were shifting the wounded to nearby hospitals.
The nature of the blast was yet to be determined. Television reports showed piles of bricks, and chunks of twisted metal from cars strewn across the wrecked station.
Faisalabad, 260 kilometres south of Islamabad, is a key hub for Pakistan’s textile industry and it has rarely been targeted. However, it lies in Punjab province, where extremist groups are believed to be growing in strength.
