At least 14 newborns killed in fire at PIMS hospital gynecology ward in Islamabad

14 newborn infants were killed early Wednesday when a fire swept through the neonatal intensive care unit on the third floor of the Mother and Child Health (MCH) Ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

Emergency officials confirmed that 15 infants were inside the nursery when the blaze erupted; a female doctor successfully rescued one child, while the remaining 14 perished.

How did Health Minister Mustafa Kamal respond to the tragedy?

Addressing reporters following the incident, Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal defended the public facility's infrastructure, noting that PIMS was originally constructed in 1985 to serve a population of 400,000, whereas Islamabad's population has expanded to nearly five million. Kamal stated that the hospital's power went out immediately after an explosion and conceded that, as a public institution, its firefighting systems are not on par with modern private hospitals.

A file photo of PIMS Islamabad. File

The Health Minister stated that the fire was triggered by an air-conditioner compressor explosion in the nursery. Health ministry officials added that high concentrations of medical oxygen inside the neonatal care unit rapidly exacerbated the flames. Requesting time to complete preliminary evaluations, Kamal asked for "one and a half to two hours" to brief the public on performance metrics and initial findings regarding the emergency response.

What actions are federal authorities taking and what claims do parents make?

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari issued statements expressing deep grief over the tragedy, ordering an immediate investigation to determine responsibility and strictly enforce safety protocols across public medical centers. An inquiry committee led by Islamabad's Additional Deputy Commissioner was formally constituted to investigate potential safety lapses, electrical maintenance protocols, and emergency response delays.

Grieving family members and eyewitnesses alleged that emergency responders and fire tenders arrived nearly an hour after the fire started, forcing bystanders to attempt rescue efforts unassisted.

An eyewitness also claimed that rescue teams reached the hospital late, while parents said there was no immediate assistance available to save the babies trapped inside the nursery.

The allegations have raised serious questions over the emergency response and fire safety arrangements at the federal capital’s largest public-sector hospital.

PIMS administration confirmed that the process of handing over the deceased infants to their parents is underway, with at least nine bodies released to relatives by Wednesday afternoon.