A firefighter climbs up a ladder to extinguish a fire at the Shah Alam Market in Lahore February 7, 2011. The fire at the market, a major wholesale market for toys and cosmetics in the centre of the city, destroyed several buildings and injured several people, Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reported. – Photo by Reuters

LAHORE: A fire blazed in several buildings and injured at least 27 people on Monday in a commercial area of Pakistan's eastern cultural hub Lahore, officials said.

“The fire started early Monday at the 10-story Bahria Centre commercial building in old Lahore city, and the flames spread to three other buildings, one mosque and two houses,” rescue services chief Rizwan Naseer told AFP.

Local administration head Ahad Cheema said that at least 27 people were hurt.

“At least 27 people were wounded in the fire incident. We have asked Islamabad to send us a helicopter to extinguish the fire,” Cheema said.

Naseer said that the narrow lanes of old Lahore, known as the “walled city”, hampered rescue efforts as fire engines could not enter and the hoses were not long enough to reach the multi-storey building in the congested neighbourhood.

Officials said that they were estimating the losses caused by the massive fire, which took place in an area famous for wholesale businesses. – AFP