At least 20 people have been killed and 40 wounded after a bomb exploded at a vegetable market in northwest Pakistan.

The blast happened in the city of Parachinar, a mainly Shia Muslim area on the Afghan border, the BBC reported on Saturday.

The market was full of shoppers when the device exploded. Officials said the death toll was expected to rise.

A faction of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) said it was behind the blast, adding its goal was "to avenge the killing of our associates".

Source: MENA