A Pakistani police official says 26 people have been killed when after a passenger van and a truck collided near the central city of Bahawalpur.

Local media reported that of those killed, seven were women and three were children.

Rescue workers pulled bodies and 10 injured from the crash, sending them to the local hospital. All of the injured were in a serious condition.

Suhail Tajik, the police chief of Bahawalpur, said Tuesday's accident took place on a section of the highway outside the city.

He said the passenger van was overtaking another vehicle when it slammed into an oncoming truck. The van was completely destroyed.

Pakistan has a well-developed highway system but drivers often ignore basic safety rules and fatal road accidents are common.

Many public transport drivers are often not properly trained and often work long hours.