ISLAMABAD: At least 14 newborn babies were killed when a fire tore through the nursery of the Mother and Child Health (MCH) ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad early Wednesday, triggering a government inquiry and demands for accountability.
The blaze broke out at around 6:45am on the third floor of the hospital’s MCH ward, where newborns were being treated in incubators or receiving oxygen, according to officials.
PIMS spokesperson Dr Aneeza Jalil said 15 babies were present in the nursery when the fire erupted, adding that one newborn was rescued by a doctor.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the fire apparently began after an air-conditioning unit in the ward exploded. The blast was followed by a rapid spread of flames, with the presence of oxygen equipment believed to have intensified the situation.
The Islamabad district administration said rescue teams reached the hospital soon after being alerted. Six fire brigade vehicles and four ambulances were deployed to contain the blaze and evacuate those affected.
The fire was brought under control, while the surviving children were shifted to the intensive care unit, the administration said.
Fire safety concerns
The tragedy has raised serious questions about safety arrangements at the country’s largest public-sector hospital in the federal capital.
Rescue sources claimed that fire-fighting arrangements in the affected area were inadequate. They said there was no water available at the designated fire point and that couplings required for the fire hose were missing.
They also alleged that emergency evacuation routes had been locked, potentially delaying efforts to evacuate patients and staff.
According to rescue sources, no doctors, ward attendants or other staff members were present inside the nursery when the fire broke out.
Parents and relatives also raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding the incident. A man whose niece was admitted to the gynaecology ward said renovation and repair work was under way in the building.
He said women who had recently given birth were forced to leave the building using the stairs after the fire started. The MCH ward was subsequently sealed.
24-hour inquiry ordered
The Islamabad district administration has constituted an eight-member fact-finding committee to determine the cause of the fire and assess whether adequate safety measures were in place.
The committee is headed by the additional deputy commissioner general and includes senior officials from Capital Emergency Services, Islamabad Police, the Capital Development Authority, PIMS and Islamabad Electric Supply Company.
It has been tasked with establishing the exact cause of the fire, examining the availability and functionality of fire-safety systems, and assessing the response of emergency and firefighting teams. The committee has been directed to submit its findings within 24 hours.
PM orders an immediate investigation
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the tragedy and ordered an immediate and detailed investigation.
اسلام آباد : 26 اگست 2026.
وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف نے پمز ہسپتال کی نرسری میں آتشزدگی کے اندوناک واقعہ میں 14 نومولود جاں بحق ہونے پر گہرے دکھ اور دِلی افسوس کا اظہار کیا. وزیراعظم نے معصوم بچوں کے لواحقین سے دلی اظہار تعزیت کیا۔ وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف نے آتشزدگی کے افسوسناک…
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) August 26, 2026
The prime minister expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and said the loss of children was particularly unbearable for their families. He directed authorities to identify the factors that led to the fire and determine who was responsible.
The Prime Minister’s Office also summoned an emergency meeting involving relevant officials and heads of institutions concerned with the hospital and emergency response.
President calls for those responsible to be held accountable
President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed condolences to the families, describing the deaths as a heartbreaking and irreparable loss.
He called for responsibility to be established and legal action to be taken against those found responsible, while stressing the need for effective fire-safety and emergency arrangements in hospitals, particularly for vulnerable patients such as newborns.
صدرِ مملکت آصف علی زرداری کا پمز اسپتال اسلام آباد آتشزدگی کے افسوسناک واقعے پر گہرے دکھ اور افسوس کا اظہار۔
صدرِ مملکت کا آتشزدگی کے نتیجے میں نومولود بچوں کے جاں بحق ہونے پر لواحقین سے دلی تعزیت اور ہمدردی کا اظہار۔
نومولود بچوں کی المناک اموات انتہائی دلخراش اور ناقابلِ…
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) August 26, 2026
Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also expressed grief over the deaths and called for stronger safety systems in healthcare facilities.
PMA demands action
The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) said it was deeply saddened by the tragedy and criticised what it described as failures in administration and regulatory oversight.
The association said healthcare facilities were meant to protect lives but could become dangerous when safety standards and emergency systems were not properly enforced.
It called for action against officials found responsible for failing to maintain safety standards and demanded stronger oversight of fire-safety protocols, building regulations and emergency infrastructure in both public and private hospitals.
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The PMA also urged the authorities to provide legal, financial and emotional support to the bereaved families.
PIMS, established in 1985, is Islamabad’s largest public-sector hospital and includes several hospitals and teaching institutions.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns over fire safety, emergency preparedness and enforcement of building and safety standards in major healthcare facilities across Pakistan.
