ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has suspended Pakistan’s federal health secretary and ordered a comprehensive investigation following a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 14 newborn infants at a major state-run hospital in Islamabad.
The fire broke out on the third floor of the maternal and child health ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), one of the capital’s largest public healthcare facilities. Emergency responders rescued one newborn from the blaze, while hospital officials attributed the incident to an electrical short circuit.
This tragedy follows months after Islamabad authorities documented widespread deficiencies in fire-safety compliance throughout the capital. A comprehensive survey of 6,500 public and private structures, encompassing 300 government buildings, revealed that the majority had failed to secure approval for fire-safety plans or obtain the necessary completion and fire-safety certifications, according to the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
“Fourteen infants perished in the incident, with one child successfully rescued,” stated PIMS spokesperson Dr. Aneza Jalil, noting that all remains had been returned to their respective families.
Prime Minister Sharif presided over an emergency cabinet meeting Wednesday and ordered the immediate suspension and removal of Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghori from his position. The Prime Minister directed the official to exit the meeting following the suspension announcement.
The Prime Minister additionally established a high-level inquiry commission led by former interior secretary Shahid Khan, which has commenced its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire. Establishment Secretary Dr. Barrister Noel Awan was among the distinguished members appointed to the committee.
Islamabad’s emergency services deployed six firefighting units and four ambulances to manage the crisis response.
Furthermore, the Islamabad district magistrate has established a separate fact-finding committee charged with establishing the precise origin of the fire, evaluating the adequacy and functionality of existing fire-safety infrastructure, and assessing the timeliness and effectiveness of rescue and firefighting operations.
The district magistrate has mandated that the committee deliver its findings within 24 hours.
Islamabad maintains dedicated fire-prevention regulations, while healthcare institutions are mandated under regulatory frameworks to maintain comprehensive fire-safety strategies encompassing prevention, early detection, suppression systems, and secure evacuation procedures.