Pakistan minister vows accountability after Islamabad hospital fire kills 14 infants

Pakistan's health minister said on Wednesday that he had offered himself for accountability over a hospital fire in Islamabad that killed 14 newborn babies, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the removal of the federal health secretary and launched a high-level investigation.

What caused the Islamabad hospital fire?

The fire broke out early on Wednesday in the neonatal intensive care unit on the third floor of the Mother and Child Health Ward at PIMS, Islamabad's largest public hospital. Fifteen infants were inside the nursery at the time. A doctor rescued one baby, while the remaining fourteen died.

Health Minister Mustafa Kamal expressed condolences to the victims' families and described the incident as a tragedy that appeared to involve negligence. "First of all, I am presenting myself for accountability," Kamal told reporters, saying he had also offered himself for accountability to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

What did the health minister say about the cause of the fire?

Kamal said:

The CCTV footage appeared to show a spark coming from an air conditioner. Within a minute, the entire room was engulfed in flames. The footage also showed two doctors and two nurses rushing to help.

Of the 15 babies in the nursery, 14 were receiving oxygen, Kamal said, adding that the oxygen contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. He said 26 cylinders were used during efforts to extinguish the blaze. PIMS spokeswoman Aneeza Jalil separately told AFP that the fire was caused by an electrical fault and that the "fire sparked" from an air conditioner.

Kamal said CCTV footage would be handed over to investigators and could help establish exactly how the fire developed. "This should not have happened," he said, adding that an inquiry report was expected within two to three days and that everyone responsible would face accountability.

What action has the prime minister taken?

Sharif ordered the immediate suspension and removal of Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghori during a high-level meeting convened to review the deaths. He also formed an inquiry committee to establish what happened and determine responsibility, with former Interior Secretary Shahid Khan set to lead it alongside Establishment Secretary Dr Barrister Nabeel Awan.

Sharif said in a statement posted on X that anyone found responsible for negligence would be held accountable and that the facts surrounding the deaths must be brought to light. Kamal said he had been attending an online meeting with Sharif when the prime minister ordered the health secretary's removal, and that he would meet the prime minister after arriving in Islamabad.

"The hospital has its problems," Kamal said, without elaborating.

What did the minister say about security at the nursery?

Kamal said access to the nursery had been restricted because babies had previously been stolen from the hospital, with a security guard stationed outside the ward around the clock. He said the main entrance to the ward had always remained guarded and that security personnel were responsible for monitoring the area.

The comments came after witnesses alleged that guards had prevented some people from leaving the ward as the fire spread. Kamal said children being treated in a ward adjacent to the neonatal unit had since been moved to another block of the hospital.

He also acknowledged the challenges of managing major healthcare facilities in Islamabad, saying the city's population had grown to about 3.3 million and that the government was working to improve the management and provision of healthcare services. "I assure you that effective action will be taken against all those responsible for the tragic loss of children at PIMS," he said.

Kamal added that he considered himself responsible for the tragedy and would give Sharif a detailed account of his own responsibility once those found culpable were arrested. The minister was interrupted by protests from people at the press conference and subsequently left the venue.

What are witnesses saying about the emergency response?

Witnesses described scenes of heavy smoke, broken glass and confusion inside the hospital and alleged that emergency services were slow to respond. Some family members and eyewitnesses said fire tenders and ambulances arrived nearly an hour after the blaze began, leaving bystanders to try to rescue those trapped inside.

Witnesses also alleged that some doors were locked and that security guards prevented people from leaving the building, forcing some to smash windows to reach people inside. These claims could not immediately be independently verified, and the allegations have raised questions about emergency preparedness, fire-safety arrangements and the hospital's ability to evacuate vulnerable patients during a major incident.

PIMS administration said the process of handing over the bodies to relatives was under way, with at least nine bodies released to families by Wednesday afternoon.

How common are deadly building fires in Pakistan?

Deadly fires in large buildings are relatively common in Pakistan, where weak enforcement of safety regulations and building codes has often been cited as a contributing factor. In January, more than 65 people were killed in a shopping centre fire in Karachi.

At least 11 people died in another shopping mall fire in Karachi in 2023, while 16 workers were killed in a factory fire in the city in 2021. In 2012, at least 250 laborers died in a garment factory fire in Karachi.