Pakistan’s Geo News reported that a gas blast rocked the mine in the northern town of Hangu and local rescuers were busy recovering the trapped bodies.

About 60 workers are thought to have been in the mine at the time of the incident.

Initial reports suggest that the accumulation of gas was due to improper ventilation within the mine.

Pakistan – a electricity-hungry nation of 180 million people – is under pressure to accelerate exploitation of its barely touched coal reserves.

The country’s 9000sq.kmThar coalfield in the Sindh province has been reported to hold some 175 billion tonnes of low-energy coal.

The government has invested heavily in Thar-area infrastructure and has designated the area a special economic zone with incentives for foreign investors.