KARACHI, Feb 4: Two explosions occurred in different parts of the city on Friday but caused no casualty or damage. Police believed the blasts were caused by crackers.

The blasts took place amid exceptionally stringent security employed these days for the Expo Pakistan international exhibition now under way at the Expo Centre.

The first blast occurred at 7:50am in the narrow street linking Beaumont Road and Abdullah Haroon Road close to the Chief Minister's House. TPO Saddar Dr Sanaullah Abbasi told Dawn that it was caused by a cracker.

Police found no traces of splinters, pieces of timer or such other devices at the scene of the incident which suggested that it was a cracker explosion, the TPO added.

"The bang was so loud because of the vacant plots on both sides of the road where the explosion occurred," police said. "An inquiry into the incident is being conducted by the police", Dr Abbasi said.

The second explosion occurred at 8:20am at the patch of Sir Shah Mohammad Suleiman Road between Hasan Square and National Stadium. Gulshan TPO Asif Ajaz told Dawn that the blast occurred at the traffic island close to an electric pole.

It was a cracker blast as no splinters or debris was found from the site of the explosion, he said. The blast left a small crater on the ground but caused no harm to anyone or damage to any property, police said. The home-made cracker might have been lobbed by someone from a moving vehicle, they added.