President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other political leaders on Wednesday expressed deep grief over the deaths of 14 newborns in a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.
The president described the deaths as “heartbreaking and an irreparable loss” and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. He directed the authorities to immediately investigate the incident, fix responsibility and take strict action against those found negligent.
President Zardari also called for a review of fire safety measures at healthcare facilities across the country and urged authorities to ensure their effective implementation to prevent similar tragedies.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also expressed profound sorrow over the deaths and conveyed his sympathies to the affected families. He described the loss of the newborns as “irreparable” and ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.
He directed the relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire and ensure that anyone found responsible was held accountable under the law.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the fire spread rapidly due to the presence of combustible medical equipment and oxygen cylinders in the nursery. He expressed grief over the deaths and said an administrative audit of hospital safety protocols was under way to identify possible systemic lapses.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif also expressed sorrow over the deaths and extended her condolences to the bereaved mothers and families. She described the tragedy as unbearable and called for strict implementation of fire safety protocols at public and private healthcare facilities.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed grief over the incident and offered condolences to the bereaved families. He said a transparent investigation would be conducted and those responsible for any negligence would be held accountable.
According to preliminary reports, the fire erupted at around 6:45am on the third floor of the MCH ward. It was reportedly triggered by an air-conditioner compressor explosion or a short circuit and spread rapidly after coming into contact with oxygen supplies.
There were 15 infants in the nursery when the fire broke out. Emergency teams, along with six fire engines and four ambulances, rushed to the hospital and brought the blaze under control.
Fourteen newborns died in the incident, while one infant was rescued by a doctor on duty.
The Islamabad district administration has constituted an inquiry committee headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner General to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess the safety arrangements at the facility.
