ISLAMABAD: At least 14 newborn babies have died after a devastating fire broke out inside the maternity ward of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), one of the country’s largest government-run hospitals, in Islamabad.
The fire erupted at around 7 a.m. local time inside the nursery where newborn babies were receiving care.
Rescue sources said the blaze may have been triggered by an explosion involving an air-conditioning compressor inside the nursery.
Hospital workers managed to rescue only one child, while 14 newborns lost their lives in the tragedy.
Grieving Families Demand Answers
The tragedy has left families devastated.
One grieving father told reporters that his three-day-old baby was among those killed.
“No one can understand the pain I’m going through,” he said.
A woman identified as Muneeba, who was visiting relatives at the hospital, described narrowly escaping with her nephew and sister-in-law as the fire spread.
“Thank God our baby is safe,” she said.
Questions Over Rescue Operation
The tragedy has also raised serious questions about the emergency response at the hospital.
Multiple people reported encountering locked doors inside the affected area.
Two sources from Islamabad’s Capital Development Authority said hospital authorities closed the facility’s main gates after the fire began, potentially delaying rescue efforts.
According to the sources, rescue personnel reached the hospital’s main gate within six minutes after receiving the emergency call at 6:54 a.m.
However, they reportedly faced additional delays while attempting to gain access.
The gates were eventually reopened with assistance from traffic police, but hospital security personnel allegedly directed first responders to the wrong location of the fire.
A hospital spokesperson rejected the allegations, calling claims that the gates were closed “factually incorrect.”
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said he was not aware of the alleged delays and that an official inquiry would establish the facts.
Shehbaz Sharif Orders Investigation
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and offered condolences to the families.
He ordered an immediate investigation and pledged strict action against anyone found responsible.
Sharif also suspended senior federal health official Aslam Ghauri following the tragedy.
The investigation is expected to examine the cause of the fire, the hospital’s emergency preparedness, fire-safety arrangements and the response of hospital staff and emergency services.
Concerns Over Hospital Safety
The incident has renewed concerns about the condition of public healthcare facilities in Pakistan.
Government-run hospitals frequently face problems including limited resources, staff shortages, aging infrastructure and inadequate emergency preparedness.
The PIMS facility occupies a large site in Islamabad and serves as one of the capital’s major medical institutions.
The hospital’s stated mission is to provide medical education, research and healthcare according to international professional standards.
The deaths of the newborns have therefore triggered questions over whether adequate safety measures were in place in one of the country’s most important hospitals.
Pakistan’s Recent Fire Tragedies
The Islamabad hospital fire comes amid a series of major fire incidents across Pakistan.
Earlier this year, a massive fire at a shopping centre in Karachi killed at least 67 people.
In June 2022, a fire at a children’s hospital in Lahore destroyed medicines worth thousands of dollars, according to local media reports.
The latest tragedy has once again highlighted the importance of fire prevention systems, emergency exits, trained staff and rapid-response procedures in Pakistan’s hospitals.
For the families who lost their newborn children, however, the immediate demand remains accountability and answers over how such a devastating tragedy was allowed to happen.
