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

Fourteen 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) in Islamabad.

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.

The Islamabad district office said the fire broke out in the early hours on the third floor of the MCH Ward at the capital's premier public hospital.

Witnesses described chaotic and harrowing scenes, with intense smoke and broken glass adding to the confusion. They also alleged a slow response from emergency services and said security guards prevented some people from leaving the ward.

PIMS spokeswoman Aneeza Jalil told AFP that the fire was caused by an electrical fault, saying that "fire sparked from the AC".

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 worker removes broken pieces of a glass window after a fire broke out at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, August 26, 2026.Reuters

The Health Minister said 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 has Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif taken?

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed strong displeasure over the deaths and the performance of relevant officials and ordered the immediate suspension and removal of Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghori from his post.

Sharif also constituted a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the incident and determine responsibility. Former Interior Secretary Shahid Khan will head the committee, while Establishment Secretary Dr Barrister Nabeel Awan will serve as a member.

In a statement shared on X, the prime minister said anyone found responsible for negligence would be held accountable and that the facts surrounding the tragedy must be brought to light.

President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed deep grief over the deaths and called for those responsible to be held accountable.

Javeria, mother of a newborn victim, is consoled following a deadly fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, August 26, 2026.Reuters

What claims do parents and witnesses make about the emergency response?

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.

An inquiry committee led by Islamabad's Additional Deputy Commissioner was also formally constituted to investigate potential safety lapses, electrical maintenance protocols and emergency response delays.

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.

Have similar fires occurred in Pakistan?

Fires in large buildings are frequent in Pakistan, often linked to poor safety laws and building codes as well as lax enforcement.

In January, more than 65 people were killed in a shopping center fire in the port city of Karachi.

At least 11 people were killed in another shopping mall fire in Karachi in 2023.

In 2021, at least 16 workers died after a factory fire in the same city. In 2012, at least 250 laborers died in a garment factory fire in Karachi.

With additional input from AFP