At least three people were killed and 24 others injured on Wednesday evening in a blast in Pakistan's southwest Quetta city, said an official.

Media Coordinator of Health Department of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province Waseem Baig said in a statement that three people, including a police officer, died in the blast.

Local police told media that the blast took place near a police vehicle in a busy market located at the Fatima Jinnah Road of the city.

Police, security forces and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and the injured to a hospital.

The death toll might further rise as five of the wounded were in critical condition, added the police.

The police said that a deputy superintendent of police lost life, while two other police personnel were seriously injured in the blast, according to the local reports.

The bomb disposal squad of police is investigating to ascertain the nature of the blast.

Several vehicles parked nearby were also damaged while a shop was engulfed in fire following the blast, said local reports.

Police and security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

No group or individual has claimed the blast yet.

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