At least 17 children and a teacher lost their lives when the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar on Thursday, according to hospital authorities.
All 17 students who died were under the age of 13, while more than a dozen other people sustained injuries in the incident.
Lady Reading Hospital spokesperson Mohammad Asim confirmed that the bodies of the students and teacher had been brought to the hospital, along with those injured in the collapse.
The circumstances surrounding the tragedy remain unclear, with authorities yet to establish what caused the school roof to give way.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed profound grief over the deaths and extended condolences to the bereaved families.
He also prayed for the recovery of those injured and directed the relevant authorities to ensure that all necessary medical treatment and assistance were provided to the victims.
The cause of the collapse had not been determined at the time of the initial report.