NA Health Committee Reviews PIMS Fire, Demands Transparent Probe

Members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Health visited the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad on Thursday to examine the circumstances surrounding the deadly fire at the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit. The visit came as authorities continued investigating the blaze that killed 14 newborn babies and triggered widespread concern over safety standards at one of the federal capital's largest public hospitals.

The parliamentary delegation was led by committee chairman Dr Mahesh Kumar, who sought information from hospital officials about how the fire began, the response of staff and emergency teams, and the safety arrangements in place when the incident occurred. Speaking to the media after the visit, Kumar said the committee expected a transparent and impartial investigation and stressed that responsibility should be established regardless of the seniority of any official involved.

Kumar said determining the exact origin of the blaze was the first major question facing investigators. The parliamentary panel is also examining emergency procedures, the availability and effectiveness of safety measures, and the presence and role of relevant hospital personnel at the time of the disaster. He said no individual should be shielded if negligence or an administrative lapse is established through the investigation.

The cause of the fire has remained under scrutiny as different preliminary assessments emerged following the tragedy. Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal had earlier linked the blaze to an apparent spark involving an air-conditioning unit, while members of the parliamentary health committee said a broader technical fault remained a possibility and that the final cause had yet to be established. Officials have therefore emphasized that conclusions should depend on the formal inquiry rather than preliminary observations.

The fire broke out at PIMS on August 26 and killed 14 infants, turning the incident into a major national health and public-safety issue. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the deaths and ordered a high-level investigation into the tragedy. The government also moved against senior health administration officials as it sought to determine whether negligence, infrastructure problems or failures in emergency preparedness contributed to the loss of life.

The disaster has intensified scrutiny of fire-safety arrangements at hospitals across Pakistan. Questions have been raised about emergency exits, electrical systems, firefighting equipment, evacuation plans and the ability of older public-sector buildings to respond to rapidly spreading fires. Authorities in other jurisdictions have also begun reviewing hospital safety measures following the PIMS incident, reflecting the wider impact of the tragedy beyond Islamabad.

For Pakistan's public health system, the investigation is likely to become an important test of institutional accountability. PIMS treats large numbers of patients from Islamabad as well as other parts of the country, making confidence in its safety and emergency systems especially significant. The deaths of newborns have increased public pressure on federal authorities to move beyond preliminary explanations and identify any specific technical, administrative or operational failures.

The parliamentary committee and the government's inquiry panel are expected to continue gathering evidence, reviewing hospital records and assessing the actions of officials and staff. Their findings will be closely watched for conclusions on the cause of the fire, responsibility for any negligence and recommendations aimed at preventing a similar disaster. Further administrative or legal action could follow if the investigations establish failures by individuals or institutions.