27/08/2026
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14 Newborns Die in PIMS Gynaecology Ward Fire; PM Orders High-Level Inquiry.
A catastrophic tragedy has struck Islamabad's premier healthcare facility after a massive fire broke out in the neonatal nursery of the Mother and Child Ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). The inferno, which erupted early Wednesday morning due to an air conditioner explosion and a short circuit, spread rapidly across the ward, fed by localized oxygen supply lines. Out of 15 infants receiving critical care in the nursery, 14 tragically lost their lives to severe burn injuries, while one baby was rescued by an attending doctor. Emergency responders from the CDA fire brigade and Rescue 1122 scaled broken windows and deployed six fire engines to contain the blaze and complete cooling operations.
Following widespread public outrage over reported fire-safety lapses and locked emergency exits, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened an urgent high-level meeting, ordering the immediate suspension of Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghori. The Prime Minister constituted a high-level inquiry committee, headed by retired federal secretary Shahid Khan, to investigate the timeline, establish emergency compliance, and hold negligent personnel accountable. While President Asif Ali Zardari and civic leaders expressed deep grief over the heart-wrenching loss, hospital authorities have initiated DNA testing to assist grieving families in identifying their deceased infants.