Unknown gunmen abducted 13 labourers from Tator area of Tank district in Pakistan when they were repairing a 132KV transmission line on Friday, media reports said.

District police officer Abdus Salam Khalid told Dawn News that nine out of the 13 labourers were recovered by the police, and search for the remaining was continuing.

Khalid said the labourers were working on 132KV transmission line within the limits of Shaheed Mureed Akbar police station in Tator village of Tank when they were kidnapped by unknown armed men.

He said the abducted labourers belonged to Punjab.

Police cordoned off the area after reaching the spot.

A search operation has been launched.