The injured had been taken to hospital, and seven of the wounded passengers were in a serious condition, said a police official.

KARACHI: A road accident killed 20 people including women and children and wounded 13 others in southern Pakistan on Sunday, police said.

The incident took place in Thatta town, some 100 kilometres east of Karachi, Pakistan's largest city and its economic hub in Southern Sindh province.

“The van collided with the bus while overtaking another vehicle on national highway. 20 people have died and 13 wounded,” Mohammad Ali Wassan, Thatta police chief told AFP.

Some of the bodies were beyond recognition, police said.

Pakistan private television Geo said the passenger van was heading to Karachi, and the bus was moving towards Shah Aqiq town in Sindh province.

Wassan said the injured have been taken to hospital, and seven of the wounded passengers were in a serious condition.

Pakistan has one of the world's worst records for fatal traffic accidents, blamed on poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving.