Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif cut his trip to London short to condole the loss of more than 150 people in the Bahawalpur oil tanker blaze.

Read more: Death toll from Bahawalpur oil tanker fire climbs to 153

He reached Ahmad Pur Sharkiya by helicopter before noon Monday to join Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and other provincial officials in condoling the horrific accident that had shocked the nation a day earlier.

The premier had flown in directly to Bahawalpur, where he visited the Victoria Hospital to spend time with those injured in the incident. He was accompanied by CM Shahbaz Sharif and Commissioner Bahawalpur Saqib Zafar.

He was later given a briefing on the deadly blaze at Ahmad Pur Sharkiya at the Circuit House. He was told that the accident occurred at 6:20am on Sunday morning, when a tanker carrying around 25,000 litres of fuel from Karachi to Lahore overturned on the highway.

The commissioner Bahawalpur told the prime minister that the victims of the incident had gathered around the tanker to collect the leaking fuel when, due to as yet unknown reasons, the tanker exploded, killing around 140 and injuring 125 instantly.

Expressing his grievance at the loss of lives, the premier said he empathised with the pain of those injured and those who had lost loved ones in the incident. He also led prayers for those suffering, wishing all the injured good health and a quick recovery.

Assuring that an inquiry has been ordered into the accident, the premier said there should be no politics on the loss of lives.

He also announced government jobs for the heirs of the deceased and the injured, along with Rs1 million in aid for each of those injured.

Opinion

Editorial

Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...
Provincial share
Updated 17 Mar, 2024

Provincial share

PPP has aptly advised Centre to worry about improving its tax collection rather than eying provinces’ share of tax revenues.
X-communication
17 Mar, 2024

X-communication

IT has now been a month since Pakistani authorities decided that the country must be cut off from one of the...
Stateless humanity
17 Mar, 2024

Stateless humanity

THE endless hostility between India and Pakistan has reduced prisoners to mere statistics. Although the two ...