Key Points
- Saudi Arabia extends condolences to families of 34 children and a teacher killed in a school roof collapse
- Pakistani authorities order investigation into building failure and seek accountability
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directs medical assistance for the injured and support for affected families.
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia has expressed solidarity with Pakistan following a school roof collapse in Peshawar that killed 35 people, including 34 children, as authorities investigate the cause of the tragedy and seek action against those responsible.
The Saudi Embassy in Islamabad issued a statement conveying the Kingdom’s support for Pakistan and condolences to the families of the victims.
The collapse at the privately run Al-Khair Education Centre in Dir Colony also left several people injured.
“The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Islamabad expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan following the school roof collapse incident in the city of Peshawar, which resulted in numerous deaths and injuries,” the statement said.
“The Kingdom expresses its support for Pakistan and its brotherly people in this affliction, and extends its sincere condolences to the families and relatives of the deceased, while wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.”
The incident occurred Thursday morning, when the roof of a school building collapsed, trapping children and staff beneath the rubble. Rescue workers spent hours recovering victims from the debris.
According to the latest official count, 34 children and one female teacher were killed. Most of the children were aged 13 or younger and belonged to low-income families.
Peshawar Capital City Police Officer Dr Mian Saeed said the building had a weak structure and that additional construction had overloaded the roof, contributing to the collapse.
Authorities have ordered an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Distraught relatives have demanded accountability, accusing the school administration of ignoring concerns about the building’s condition.
Mohammad Zaman, who lost two nephews in the collapse, called for those responsible to face consequences.
“Make an example of them, a lesson for all, so that no one dares open a school just to make money without providing facilities,” he told Reuters.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured and provide all necessary assistance to the affected families, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The prime minister also sought a comprehensive report on the incident and instructed officials to investigate all aspects of the collapse and take legal action against those found responsible.
The tragedy has raised concerns over the safety of school buildings and the need to ensure adequate facilities and structural standards at educational institutions.
Saudi Arabia’s statement offered condolences to the bereaved families and wished those injured a speedy recovery, expressing the Kingdom’s support for Pakistan during the tragedy.
