SARGODHA, June 27: A fire broke out at a plastic-shoe factory in the Sitara Market of Amin Bazaar here on Friday, and the three-storey building was gutted as a result.

However, efforts of the local fire-brigade saved hundreds of other shops in the market.

Sources said the factory was being run by one Maqsood Ahmed alias Papoo without the formal permission of the authorities concerned.

An employee at the factory alleged that the owner had been stealing power from a pole with the connivance of Wapda officials.

The allegation was supported by the fact that the fire did not affect factory meters despite being caused by short-circuiting.

Traders of the area urged the government to initiate an inquiry to determine as to who had allowed illegal functioning of a plastic factory in the area.