Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed strong anger over the deadly fire that broke out in the children’s nursery ward of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.
The prime minister has directed authorities to take strict action against those found responsible after the completion of the inquiry into the tragic incident.
An investigation committee formed on the prime minister’s instructions has visited PIMS and started examining the circumstances surrounding the fire, including possible negligence, safety lapses and the hospital’s emergency response.
Sources have said that the government is also considering seeking the resignation of PIMS Executive Director Dr Rana Imran Sikandar. The hospital chief is expected to be questioned by the inquiry committee as part of the investigation.
The committee is being headed by former federal secretary Shahid Khan. Other members include Maj Gen (retd) Dr Khurshid Utra, Nabeel Ahmed Awan and the Islamabad deputy commissioner.
During its visit to PIMS, the committee received a briefing from the hospital administration about the fire and the steps taken during the emergency.
The inquiry committee has been tasked with establishing a complete timeline of the incident and determining how the fire started, how it spread and how the hospital administration and other emergency agencies responded.
Investigators will also examine the implementation of standard operating procedures for the emergency transfer of newborns. Particular attention will be given to whether appropriate safety measures were followed while transferring critically ill and high-risk babies during the fire.
The committee will further assess the hospital’s fire safety infrastructure and determine whether PIMS was complying with relevant safety regulations.
Any negligence, administrative failure or other lapses that may have contributed to the tragedy will also be identified during the investigation.
The inquiry comes after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif previously suspended Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri and ordered a high-level investigation following the deaths of newborns in the PIMS nursery fire.
The committee is also expected to recommend reforms to improve PIMS management, emergency preparedness and fire safety arrangements.
Officials have been directed to submit the complete inquiry report to the prime minister within five days. Further administrative or disciplinary action could follow once the findings are reviewed.
The government’s response has placed renewed focus on safety standards at major public hospitals and the need for effective emergency procedures to protect vulnerable patients, particularly newborns requiring intensive medical care.
