PIMS Fire Inquiry Fixes Responsibility, Recommends Action to PM
An initial inquiry into the deadly fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad has identified causes of the incident, fixed responsibility and recommended action against those found accountable, according to reports on Saturday. The findings have been submitted to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for review and further decisions, placing the focus on possible disciplinary measures and wider reforms at the federal capital's major public hospital.
The inquiry was conducted by a high-level committee headed by former interior secretary Shahid Khan. According to officials familiar with the process, the committee completed its report after examining the circumstances surrounding the fire, interviewing hospital officials and doctors, and recording statements from fire brigade and rescue personnel involved in the emergency response. All members of the committee have signed the report.
The investigation follows the PIMS nursery fire that killed 14 infants earlier this week. The blaze occurred in the neonatal intensive care facility of the Mother and Child Health ward, prompting nationwide calls for accountability and renewed scrutiny of fire safety, emergency preparedness and administrative oversight at public hospitals. Authorities launched the high-level inquiry on the prime minister's instructions to establish what caused the tragedy and determine whether negligence contributed to the loss of life.
According to the inquiry findings cited by Dunya News, the committee highlighted difficulties encountered by rescue teams during the emergency and raised serious concerns about treatment arrangements and inadequate facilities at PIMS. The report concluded that available arrangements did not meet international standards and recommended steps designed to prevent a similar disaster in the future. It also proposed disciplinary action against relevant hospital employees who were absent when the incident occurred.
The report includes testimony from PIMS administrators and medical personnel as well as accounts from emergency responders. Investigators examined the hospital's response to the fire alongside the operational conditions faced by rescuers. The committee has urged the government to take immediate action against individuals found responsible and has included recommendations intended to strengthen emergency planning and institutional accountability.
The findings are significant because PIMS is one of Pakistan's most prominent public-sector hospitals and serves patients from Islamabad as well as surrounding regions. The deaths of newborns at a major federal medical facility have intensified public and political demands for stronger safety standards, effective hospital management and reliable emergency systems. Any action flowing from the inquiry could therefore influence not only PIMS administration but broader debate over oversight of government hospitals.
The authority to release the complete inquiry report publicly rests with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Sources cited in the report said the prime minister is expected to initiate proceedings in light of the committee's recommendations, with action against relevant officials anticipated. The next phase will depend on the prime minister's review of the findings, decisions on disciplinary measures and implementation of recommendations aimed at improving safety and preventing another such tragedy.