The incident occurred in the province's Attock district, where a gunman shot at the van and fled the scene, Attock district police officer Ghayas Gul told media.
He said an investigation into the incident is underway. Still, according to the initial investigation, the attacker targeted the van due to personal enmity with the driver, who remained safe in the attack, Xinhua news agency reported citing local media.
The injured children have been taken to a nearby hospital.
The country's president, Asif Ali Zardari, condemned the attack and ordered authorities to take strict action against those responsible.
"Attacking innocent children is a cruel and shameful act," the statement from the President's Office said.
President Zardari prayed for the deceased, as well as for the speedy recovery of the injured children.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said such an attack on children was "quite a cruel and gruesome act," Radio Pakistan reported.
Expressing his solidarity with the bereaved families, the prime minister prayed for the souls of the departed and speedy recovery of the injured.
He also ordered the relevant authorities to take stern action against the culprits and provide best treatment facilities to the injured children.
Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families, according to a statement shared by state broadcaster ews.
Praying for the injured children to recover soon, he said those "who attack innocent children do not deserve to be called human beings."
"The shooting of children inside the school van is a monstrosity. Those who exhibit barbarity are not entitled to any concessions," Naqvi said.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has sought a report on the incident from Inspector General of Police Usman Anwar, according to a statement issued by her public relations officer.
She expressed deep grief over the death of the two students and ordered that the best treatment facilities be provided to the injured.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also condemned the attack and called for "the strictest possible measures" against the perpetrators, ews reported.
While incidents of gun violence against children are rare in the country, the recent shooting was not an isolated case.
Last year, a student was killed and six others, as well as a teacher, were injured when a police officer stationed outside a school suddenly opened fire on a van in the Sangota area of Swat.
In October 2022, unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire on a school van in the Char Bagh area of Swat, killing the driver and injuring a child.
According to police, 15 students were inside the vehicle at the time of the attack.
On December 16, 2014, 147 students and staff members of Peshawar Army Public School were martyred in a gun attack by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants.
In 2012, education activist and Nobel laureate Malala Yosufzai's school bus was attacked by the TTP. While Yousafzai was her main target, other children traveling with her in the van also suffered injuries.
He said an investigation into the incident is underway. Still, according to the initial investigation, the attacker targeted the van due to personal enmity with the driver, who remained safe in the attack, Xinhua news agency reported citing local media.
The injured children have been taken to a nearby hospital.
The country's president, Asif Ali Zardari, condemned the attack and ordered authorities to take strict action against those responsible.
"Attacking innocent children is a cruel and shameful act," the statement from the President's Office said.
President Zardari prayed for the deceased, as well as for the speedy recovery of the injured children.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said such an attack on children was "quite a cruel and gruesome act," Radio Pakistan reported.
Expressing his solidarity with the bereaved families, the prime minister prayed for the souls of the departed and speedy recovery of the injured.
He also ordered the relevant authorities to take stern action against the culprits and provide best treatment facilities to the injured children.
Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families, according to a statement shared by state broadcaster ews.
Praying for the injured children to recover soon, he said those "who attack innocent children do not deserve to be called human beings."
"The shooting of children inside the school van is a monstrosity. Those who exhibit barbarity are not entitled to any concessions," Naqvi said.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has sought a report on the incident from Inspector General of Police Usman Anwar, according to a statement issued by her public relations officer.
She expressed deep grief over the death of the two students and ordered that the best treatment facilities be provided to the injured.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also condemned the attack and called for "the strictest possible measures" against the perpetrators, ews reported.
While incidents of gun violence against children are rare in the country, the recent shooting was not an isolated case.
Last year, a student was killed and six others, as well as a teacher, were injured when a police officer stationed outside a school suddenly opened fire on a van in the Sangota area of Swat.
In October 2022, unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire on a school van in the Char Bagh area of Swat, killing the driver and injuring a child.
According to police, 15 students were inside the vehicle at the time of the attack.
On December 16, 2014, 147 students and staff members of Peshawar Army Public School were martyred in a gun attack by Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants.
In 2012, education activist and Nobel laureate Malala Yosufzai's school bus was attacked by the TTP. While Yousafzai was her main target, other children traveling with her in the van also suffered injuries.
