ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: A bus carrying Chinese workers plunged into a ravine in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday morning after a mechanical failure resulting in leakage of gas that caused a blast.
According to preliminary reports, nine Chinese nationals and three Pakistanis lost their lives.
The Chinese workers and accompanying Pakistani staff were proceeding to their workplace for an ongoing project.
The local authorities are providing all possible assistance to the injured.
Further investigations are underway.
In a statement, the Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said that that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely in contact with the Chinese Embassy for coordination and facilitation.
The Spokesperson said that the government and people of Pakistan extend sincere condolences to the families of Chinese and Pakistani workers who lost their lives in the incident.
“We also pray for quick recovery of the injured,” he said.
“Pakistan and China are close friends and iron-brothers. Pakistan attaches great importance to the safety and security of Chinese nationals, projects, and institutions in Pakistan,” he added.
