Fourteen newborn babies were killed on Wednesday after a fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
According to the district administration, the fire started in the hospital’s nursery, with rescue teams reaching the scene immediately after being alerted. The Capital Emergency Service (CES) and Capital Development Authority (CDA) fire department said the fire was reported around 6:45am, with fire brigade and rescue teams arriving within seven minutes. Six fire engines and four ambulances took part in the response, with FS-01 and FS-05 fire tenders, rescue teams, CES ambulances, and ICT administration all deployed. Cooling operations and a site assessment followed once the fire was brought under control.
According to the PIMS spokesperson, fifteen newborns were in the ward at the time of the fire. Fourteen suffered severe burns and later died, while one infant survived and was rescued. All the deceased infants’ bodies have since been handed over to their families.
PM Suspends Health Secretary
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired an emergency meeting and ordered the “strictest action,” according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The prime minister expressed strong displeasure over the incident and suspended Health Secretary Aslam Ghori, asking him to leave the meeting on the spot. Sharif also extended condolences to the parents of the newborns who died. “My heart is deeply saddened by this tragic incident. We share the parents’ grief. May Allah Almighty grant the bereaved families patience,” he said.
The PMO said an inquiry committee formed by the prime minister had begun a high-level investigation into the incident, with former interior secretary Shahid Khan heading the committee and Establishment Secretary Dr Barrister Nabeel Awan serving as a member.
Sources said the prime minister had earlier summoned senior Ministry of Health officials to the Prime Minister’s House for an emergency meeting following the fire, and had directed Health Minister Mustafa Kamal to travel to Islamabad immediately, visit PIMS to assess the situation, and submit a report.
Notification Issued to Probe PIMS Fire
A formal notification was later issued at the prime minister’s direction, constituting a high-level inquiry committee. Retired federal secretary Shahid Khan was named chairman, with retired Major General Dr Khurshid Utra, Dr Barrister Nabeel Ahmed Awan, and the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad serving as members.
The committee has been tasked with determining the immediate cause of the fire and establishing a timeline of events, along with reviewing the emergency response and rescue operations carried out by hospital staff, the fire brigade, Rescue 1122, and other relevant agencies. It will also examine compliance with emergency standard operating procedures for evacuating newborns, particularly high-risk neonates, and conduct a detailed review of PIMS’ fire-safety infrastructure and regulatory compliance. The committee is additionally expected to determine responsibility and identify any negligence on the part of those involved, and to recommend administrative reforms aimed at preventing similar incidents.
According to the terms of reference laid out in the notification, the committee will submit an interim report to the prime minister within 48 hours, containing recommendations requiring immediate action, followed by a comprehensive report with full findings and actionable recommendations within five days. The Ministry of National Health Services has been directed to formally notify the inquiry committee and provide it with all necessary assistance.
Spark Triggered PIMS Nursery Fire, Preliminary Report Says
A preliminary report into the fire found that a spark triggered the blaze early Wednesday, which then spread rapidly, resulting in the loss of neonatal lives. According to the report, shared by the PIMS spokesperson, the fire broke out at around 6:38am on August 26, 2026, after a spark inside the nursery ignited a fire that intensified within seconds due to oxygen points at each incubator.
Two doctors and two nurses were on duty inside the nursery when the fire started. They responded immediately and called security staff for assistance, who joined efforts to evacuate the infants, making two attempts to enter the nursery and rescue the babies. At around 6:39am, a major blast occurred, causing the ceiling to collapse, according to the report. Duty staff managed to rescue one baby from the nursery and four babies from an adjacent room, along with three mothers. Staff also evacuated 73 other patients from the adjacent Gynae ward on the same floor within minutes.
The report said all available fire safety equipment, including 35 fire extinguishers, was used in an effort to contain the blaze, and that all emergency exits were fully open and operational at the time. “Our prayers and deepest sympathies are with the bereaved families — every human life is precious, and every newborn represents hope and a future,” the spokesperson said, adding that PIMS doctors, nurses, and staff work tirelessly every day to save lives, often under significant pressure, and that the incident is being transparently investigated across multiple forums.
