Fire engines approached the building, located opposite a fast-food eatery near the Allahwali chowrangi, with some difficulty as the road connecting the Sindh Muslim Cooperative Housing Society roundabout to the intersection, had been dug up for the past several months on account of development work.
Smoke billowed out of the building as the fire engines reached the burning high-rise.
The fire department also employed a snorkel to extinguish the fire at the rear section of the building.
The firemen hosed the burning section of the high-rise from the snorkel and from the roof of a nearby building across the street. Water tankers were also called in.
The firemen shattered the windowpanes to evacuate people stranded in the building and swiftly disconnected the power supply.
Apart from housing different offices, the building also had a large jewellery display centre.
Chief Fire Officer Ehteshamuddin said that between 14 and 18 vehicles were employed in the fire-fighting operation.
He said three to four offices were damaged in the fire but no one was injured.
He said the precise reason for the outbreak of the fire could not be ascertained at the moment.
