Six people were killed and another 40 injured when a bomb exploded in Peshawar on Friday evening, reports said.

The explosion took place a few minutes before iftar near Jinnah Park in Peshawar, the capital of the North West Frontier Province, Pakistan's private Geo TV said.

It quoted Provincial Police Chief Riffat Pasha as saying that it was a locally manufactured bomb, which was planted in a handcart.

The blast took place despite stringent security arrangements made in the province in connection with the Jumatul Wida, the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.

NWFP Chief Minister Akram Durrani ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident and announced compensation of Rupees (Pakistani) 100,000 each for families of those killed in the blast and Rupees 50,000 each for those injured.