Hundreds of people have been evacuated after a massive blaze broke out at a shopping centre in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad.

The fire erupted at the Centaurus mall, located in the heart of the city, on Sunday, sending huge plumes of black smoke billowing from the building.

Crowds of terrified shoppers were seen running down escalators to escape in scenes of panic shared on social media.

Islamabad Police said rescue teams pulled out people trapped in the mall via a rear entrance before carrying out a search operation inside the building.

A helicopter crew was also dispatched to help the rescue efforts and stop the flames spreading to other floors of the building.

Everyone inside has now been brought to safety and no casualties have been reported.

“The fire inside the mall has been brought under control and no shop was damaged,” the force said in a statement posted on Twitter.

The area has now been sealed off pending an investigation into the cause of the blaze.

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The four-storey shopping mall has more than 250 stores and welcomes 11million visitors every year.

The Centaurus building, designed by British architectural firm, WS Atkins, also houses a 36-floor hotel and three 23-floor residential and office towers, together with a cash and carry on the ground floor and food courts on the top.

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