At least 12 women and children have been killed in a stampede at a Ramadan food distribution event on Friday as business owners as a part of good deeds during the holy month of Ramadan, hand out cash and food to the poor.

Hundreds of women and children attended the event, in desperation, people started pushing for food at Sindh Industrial and Trading Estate.

According to local police account, a few women and children fell into an open drain outside the factory.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has ordered an investigation into the fatal incident while urging that any future such event should be approved before taking place. “The administration should be informed about any distribution of ration and welfare work.”

Earlier, a similar incident occurred with the death toll amounting to 21 since last week.

Pakistan is facing a wheat shortage crisis due to differences between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif`s government and other provincial governments.

The government launched an initiative to distribute free flour among low-income families, as a measure to control the impact of inflation and skyrocketing poverty during Ramadan. Pakistani police on Saturday arrested eight people in connection with the stampede.