Sixty people were injured when the driver lost control of the vehicle late Sunday at a sharp bend near Narr village, around 25 kilometres (17 miles) east of Islamabad.

The bus was carrying 97 people to Chakwal district, 100 kilometres south of the capital, after a wedding. The bus was accompanying the bride and groom, who were travelling in a separate vehicle.

"At least 23 people, including six children and as many women, were killed and 60 others injured when a bus fell into a ravine," police official Jawad Tariq told AFP.

The accident happened at 10:30 pm (1730 GMT) on Sunday. The driver lost control at a sharp bend in the road, Tariq said.