Updated at 18:00 p.m. BJT

The death toll in Pakistan's tanker fire has climbed to 148, with dozens more in critical condition, AP reported on Sunday.

Over 120 people were injured in a blaze that engulfed crowds who were gathering leaking fuel from an oil tanker that had overturned on the national highway.

Charred cars and motorcycles are seen at the scene of an oil tanker explosion in Bahawalpur, Pakistan June 25, 2017. /VCG Photo

The tanker was driving from the southern port city of Karachi to Lahore, the Punjab provincial capital, when the driver lost control and crashed, AFP reported.

Makhdoom Ali Hussain, a member of Pakistan's lower house National Assembly from Bahawalpur where the tragedy occurred, has confirmed the number of casualties to local media.

Updated at 2:45 p.m. BJT

At least 140 people have been killed after an oil tanker overturned and caught fire in Bahawalpur district, Punjab Province in eastern Pakistan on Sunday morning, Geo TV reported citing rescue sources.

The incident also left scores more injured as many people in the area had collected the leaking oil from the tanker, media reported.

Vehicles were burnt after the oil tanker caught fire. /Xinhua Photo

Dozens of vehicles, including 75 motorbikes and six cars, were engulfed in the blaze near the national highway.

According to the preliminary report, a person on the scene tried to light a cigarette, and then the spilt fuel caught fire, leading to the tanker's explosion, Reuters reported, citing Jam Sajjad Hussain, spokesman for the rescue workers service as saying.

Rescue operations are still underway.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned to CGTN for more information