LAHORE: At least 22 people have been martyred in a blast in the Ferozepur area of the provincial capital on Monday afternoon, confirmed DCO Lahore Sameer Ahmed.

Sources confirmed to Geo News that eight policeman are among those martyred in the blast.

Ahmed said 32 people were also injured in the explosion. At least 11 of the injured are said to be in critical condition.

DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf said a police picket was targeted in the attack. ?We are collecting evidence and this could be a suicide bombing. The death toll includes police and civilians.?

Police sources said a suicide attacker targetted police personnel deployed at the site, Geo News reported.

The explosion took place near the Arfa Karim IT Tower. Several motorcycles and at least one vehicle has been reported damage in the explosion.

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, addressing a press conference, said terrorism can not be ruled out as the motive behind the explosion. He added that security forces are conducting their investigations.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan confirmed that an anti-encroachment drive was being conducted at the time explosion. 

The area has been cordoned off by a heavy contingent of security forces and the section of the road has been sealed. Investigation in to the attack has been started.  

The injured have been shifted to Jinnah Hospital and other nearby hospitals. Several of the injured are in critical condition, Geo News reported. Police personnel are among those injured.

An emergency has also been imposed in the city's hospitals. 

Identity of those killed in the explosion has not yet been ascertained as of yet. 

Chief Minister Punjab has condemned the attack and has expressed sympathies with injured and the families of those killed. 

Ferozepur road links Lahore to Kasur and is a busy thoroughfare. Lahore's Metro Bus also passes through this route. 

Earlier in April, six people were martyred and 15 others wounded when a suicide bomber targeted a population census team in Lahore's Bedian Road.

In February, a suicide bomber martyred 14 people, including senior police officers, when a suicide bomber hit close to the Punjab Assembly in Lahore when hundreds of demonstrators had gathered for a protest

This is a developing story and will be updated as further details become available.