A devastating fire at a major state-run hospital in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, has killed at least 15 newborn babies. The blaze broke out early Wednesday morning in the neonatal nursery of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) reportedly triggered by an exploding air-conditioning compressor.
According to local broadcast media and rescue officials the fire started around 7:00 a.m. on the third floor of the hospital’s mother and child health ward. Out of the 16 infants present in the nursery at the time, only one was successfully rescued. Firefighters responded swiftly to extinguish the flames and secure the area.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy by calling the deaths an "irreparable loss." While initial local reports cited 15 casualties with a statement from the Prime Minister's office confirmed 14 fatalities. Sharif has ordered an immediate with high-level investigation and vowing strict action against anyone found responsible for negligence.
Established in 1985, PIMS is Islamabad’s largest public healthcare facility. This tragic incident highlights the severe infrastructural and safety challenges plaguing Pakistan's overburdened and under-resourced public health sector.
Deadly fires are alarmingly common across large buildings and factories in Pakistan. These disasters are frequently attributed to outdated infrastructure, lax enforcement of building codes and a general lack of basic fire safety protocols.
