The PIMS Fire and the Failures Behind It: What the Inquiry Report Says
The report cites fire-safety and evacuation lapses and recommends suspensions for eight officials after 14 newborns died.
- On Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received the interim inquiry report regarding the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences fire that killed 14 newborns, detailing institutional failures before the flames took hold.
- Institutional neglect exacerbated the tragedy, as PIMS had not implemented corrective measures after a July 6 fire at its Female Nursing Hostel, leaving the safety-failure process unfinished before the second fire.
- "The Nursery environment deteriorated catastrophically within approximately two minutes," the committee observed, while PIMS lacked rehearsed evacuation procedures and firefighters were forced to open locked emergency exits.
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the immediate suspension of eight officials, including PIMS Executive Director Prof Dr Imran Sikandar and Neonatology head Prof Dr Sadia Riaz, directing criminal proceedings.
- The committee recommended immediate fire and electrical audits across PIMS, establishing a command structure alerting Rescue 1122, with every deficiency requiring time-bound compliance and independent verification.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Pakistan suspends 8 officials after maternity ward fire kills 14 infants
Pakistan’s prime minister said eight officials were suspended and called for criminal proceedings against them, after 14 infants were killed in a fire in a maternity ward in a hospital in the country’s capital. A preliminary report conducted by a four-person committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif found the deadly blaze had engulfed the unit “within approximately two minutes” just after 6.30am on Wednesday, with a nurse only able to sa…
Axe falls on PIMS high-ups over deaths of 14 newborns in fire
PM Shehbaz Sharif approves suspension of eight top officials Approves conferment of Sitara-i-Khidmat on a nurse who rescued newborn babies during fire Inquiry finds serious safety failures, recommends criminal action against senior officials Blaze engulfed neonatal ward within two minutes First emergency response arrived.
Geo News
Pakistan Live News'Precise cause' of deadly Pims fire still unclear, says interim inquiry report
An interim inquiry report into the fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences that killed 14 newborns has said the precise source of ignition remains technically unresolved, but cleared frontline clinical staff of abandoning...
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 71% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
