Pakistan's PIMS nursery fire: inquiry finds systemic institutional failure

Key findings of the inquiry report into the fire at the newborn nursery of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences have emerged, pointing to serious institutional failures, electrical faults and shortcomings in the hospital's emergency response. The blaze claimed the lives of 14 newborns.

What caused the PIMS nursery fire?

The report identifies overheating in the power supply cable of Air Conditioner Unit No. 2 as the primary cause. The cable's insulation caught fire, igniting nearby combustible material and triggering the blaze, while investigators ruled out arson, oxygen leakage, incubators or warmers as the source.

According to the National Forensics Agency, the fire originated from abnormal electrical overheating rather than any external fault. The report also dismissed the possibility of an external electrical fault involving the Islamabad Electric Supply Company.

Why was the PIMS nursery unprepared for the fire?

The inquiry revealed that 15 newborn babies were present in the nursery, which had a capacity of only 10 beds. Several infants depended on oxygen or respiratory support, making their evacuation particularly difficult during the emergency.

At the time of the incident, only two doctors and two nurses were available, and resources for safely evacuating the babies were extremely limited. The report also found that smoke detectors, fire alarms and an automatic sprinkler system were not operational in the affected nursery.

How long did it take rescue services to respond?

Frontline staff responded within seconds of noticing the fire, but the hospital's incident command system failed to function effectively, according to the inquiry. The fire was first observed at 6:38pm, while rescue services were informed at 6:54pm, a delay of 16 minutes.

The rescue team was dispatched at 6:55pm and reached the hospital at 7:01pm. The report highlighted the communication delay as a major concern requiring further investigation.

Were there earlier warnings about safety at PIMS?

The inquiry report pointed to several earlier warnings regarding safety deficiencies at the hospital. The Federal Ombudsman identified safety shortcomings at PIMS in 2015, and the hospital itself acknowledged the outdated condition of its fire safety system in 2025.

The report also noted a fire at the hospital's nursing hostel on July 6, 2026. These incidents raised questions about whether previous warnings had been adequately addressed by the hospital administration.

The report's conclusion states that while the electrical fault triggered the fire, institutional and administrative failures turned the incident into a tragedy that killed 14 newborns. The findings stress the need to examine the hospital's preparedness and emergency response, not just the technical cause.

What does the inquiry committee recommend?

The committee recommended criminal investigations into alleged negligence in the maintenance of AC Unit No. 2, obstruction of emergency evacuation routes and the delay in informing rescue services. It also recommended that frontline staff who attempted to save the babies should not be held responsible solely on the basis of the tragic outcome.

The committee proposed immediate fire and electrical safety audits of the hospital, along with dedicated standard operating procedures for evacuating newborn babies. It recommended keeping the case open until all shortcomings had been independently verified and corrective measures completed.