Pakistan School Roof Collapse Claims 22 Lives, Injures Over 30

At least 22 people, including 21 pupils and a teacher, have been killed after a school roof collapsed in Peshawar, northwestern Pakistan.

More than 30 other people were injured in the incident, which occurred on Thursday, according to a hospital official.

Asim Khan of Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar confirmed the death toll to the Agence France-Presse (AFP), adding that six of the injured were believed to be in critical condition.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and extended his condolences to the families of the victims.

In a statement, the Prime Minister prayed for the bereaved families to find the strength and patience to cope with what he described as an irreparable loss.

Building and roof collapses are reportedly common in Pakistan, a South Asian country with a population of more than 240 million, often attributed to poor safety standards and substandard construction materials.

The latest incident comes months after a similar tragedy in June, when more than a dozen children were killed following the collapse of a roof at a tutoring centre in Lahore, eastern Pakistan.

In another incident in 2025, 27 people lost their lives while 10 others sustained injuries when a five-storey building collapsed in Lyari, a low-income neighbourhood in the southern city of Karachi.

The latest school tragedy has again raised concerns about building safety and the protection of children in educational facilities across the country.