PIMS Hospital Fire Kills 14 Newborns, Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri Removed

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the removal of Federal Health Secretary Muhammad Aslam Ghauri from his post following a tragic fire at the Gynecology Ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) that claimed the lives of 14 newborn babies.

According to reports, the fire broke out at around 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday in the nursery of the Mother and Child Hospital at PIMS. Firefighters and rescue teams rushed to the hospital after receiving the emergency call and brought the blaze under control. However, 14 newborn babies lost their lives, with smoke inhalation reported as the main cause of death.

Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, during a visit to PIMS, told the media that initial information suggested that the fire had started due to a short circuit. He said forensic experts were examining the scene to determine the exact cause.

The minister said some reports also suggested that an air-conditioner compressor may have malfunctioned or exploded, but this had not yet been confirmed.

He said the presence of gas cylinders, gas lines and plastic medical equipment in the ward caused the fire to spread rapidly. Most of the newborns, he said, died due to suffocation caused by smoke.

Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said two doctors and two nurses were on duty at the time of the incident and remained safe. The mothers of the newborns were also safe, while hospital staff managed to rescue one baby.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and ordered a high-level investigation into the incident. He also directed that those found responsible for negligence be held accountable.

Following the tragedy, Federal Health Secretary Muhammad Aslam Ghauri was removed from his position. A high-level inquiry committee has also been constituted to investigate the cause of the fire, examine fire-safety arrangements at PIMS and determine whether any negligence or administrative lapse was involved.

According to the Capital Development Authority (CDA), its fire department and Capital Emergency Service responded immediately after receiving the emergency call at 6:45 a.m. Fire and rescue teams reached PIMS within seven minutes.

Fire services, rescue teams and Capital Emergency Service ambulances participated in the operation. The CDA said the fire was completely extinguished and cooling and site-assessment operations were subsequently completed.

The Islamabad administration has also formed a separate inquiry committee headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner General to investigate the fire and review the safety arrangements at the hospital.

Authorities have said that strict action will be taken against anyone found responsible for negligence after completion of the investigations.