A terrible fire broke out early Wednesday morning at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, one of the country’s largest public hospitals. The blaze started around 6:45 am in the nursery of the Mother and Child ward, where newborn babies were being cared for. According to officials, 16 infants were inside when the fire began, and only one baby could be rescued. At least 14 newborns lost their lives, with some earlier reports putting the number as high as 15.
Officials believe the fire was caused by an air conditioner compressor exploding inside the nursery. Grieving parents outside the hospital said the ward’s doors were mostly shut and that there was no proper fire safety in place. Some also said hospital staff were not present when the fire broke out.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the deaths an “irreparable loss,” ordered an urgent investigation, and suspended the federal health secretary. President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed grief, calling for those responsible to be held accountable. UNICEF said it was “deeply saddened” and called for a review of hospital safety standards. Many politicians and journalists demanded strict accountability, with some calling it a case of “criminal negligence.”
As of now, most public reactions have come from political leaders, journalists, and international organizations, since the news is still very fresh. Well-known journalist Fereeha Idrees criticized the government for failing to protect babies “in the most central hospital in the federal territory,” while others questioned why basic fire safety measures were missing. Azekah Daniel and Madeha Naqvi also raised questions about the safety of Pakistani citizens.
