Eight people have sustained injuries when a fire broke out in a chemical factory in the Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (SITE) area in Karachi.
Fire tenders said several people were still trapped inside the factory and efforts were continuing to evacuate them.
Six fire engines were engaged to put out the blaze.
The water board of Karachi has declared an emergency and more fire engines are being sent to the area as it is feared that fire could spread to nearby buildings.
The district administration said that it could take hours to douse the fire due to its serious nature.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the fire and directed Karachi Administrator Laiq Ahmed to ensure that the fire is put out immediately.