At least 48 people, including children and security personnel, were killed and 70 others injured in a blast near Wagah border in Pakistan's Punjab province. The incident occured minutes after the flag-lowering ceremony at the Indo-Pak border this evening.

The powerful explosion occurred in the parking area of the Wagah border between India and Pakistan, as the flag lowering-ceremony ended. PTI reported quoting Geo TV sources said at least 48 people have been killed while nearly 70 others have been injured in the explosion and it is feared that the death toll could rise.

Inspector General, Punjab Police, Mushtaq Sukhera said, the suicide attacker approached the gate as the crowd was vacating the parade area where the flag ceremony is held. Pakistani Rangers have cordoned off the blast site.

TV footage showed shops and nearby buildings destroyed at the site of the blast. Security and rescue personnel have rushed to the spot while the injured have been taken to hospital. Emergency has been declared at all hospitals in Lahore. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has called for a report on the incident.

Insepctor General of BSF, Punjab Frontier, Ashok Kumar has told AIR Jalandhar correspondent that the Indian side of the border is safe and BSF troops are on high alert.

Wagah is the only road border crossing between Amritsar and the Pakistani city of Lahor