At least nine people were killed and several more injured in a road accident on the outskirts of Pakistan's capital Islamabad on Tuesday, police and emergency service said.

An oil tanker truck ploughed into a commuter van which had veered into oncoming traffic while trying to avoid a rough patch on the road. The truck did not explode after the collision.

Most of the deaths occurred immediately due to the high force of impact, a spokeman for the Rescue 1122 emergency service said.

Seven injured passengers were moved to the hospital in Taxila, a small town located 25 kilometers from Islamabad.

Fatal accidents are common in Pakistan largely because of poor road conditions and unsafe driving habits.

Sixteen passengers were killed and a dozen more injured last week when a speeding van overturned on a motorway close to the site of the Tuesday's crash. Nine of the victims belonged to the same family.

Police said the pre-dawn accident had been caused by the drowsy driver.