PM Announces Rs10m Reward, Civil Honour for Hero PIMS Nurse

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a Rs10 million cash reward and a national civil honour for nurse Razia Noreen, recognising her extraordinary courage in rescuing a newborn during the deadly fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad. The announcement has brought renewed national attention to the healthcare worker whose actions during the hospital emergency saved the only infant known to have survived inside the affected nursery.

The prime minister met Noreen at the Prime Minister's House on Thursday and praised her response during the August 26 fire. Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar were also present. Shehbaz said her courage represented an example of public service that deserved national recognition and announced that she would receive the Tamgha-i-Khidmat on Pakistan Day, March 23, in addition to the Rs10 million financial award.

Noreen recounted that she entered the smoke-filled area to rescue newborns as the fire spread through the hospital's gynaecology ward. She managed to bring one baby to safety and attempted to return for others, but conditions deteriorated rapidly. She said an explosion occurred as she went back toward the affected area, followed by darkness and intense smoke that prevented further rescue efforts.

The fire was one of the most devastating hospital incidents reported in the capital this year. Fourteen newborn babies died after flames engulfed the nursery, which had been housing 15 infants at the time. Noreen's successful rescue therefore became one of the few moments of hope to emerge from a tragedy that devastated families and prompted intense scrutiny of safety arrangements at the country's largest public-sector hospital.

The prime minister told the nurse that the country recognised her bravery and said her actions would be remembered. Noreen, however, also highlighted the contribution of other nurses who worked during the emergency, saying her colleagues had performed their duties under extremely difficult circumstances and also deserved appreciation for their efforts.

The incident has already triggered official accountability measures. Authorities launched inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the fire, while questions were raised over emergency preparedness, fire prevention systems and administrative responsibility at the hospital. The prime minister has said action was taken against officials found responsible, while separate investigative processes have continued to examine how the fire started and whether safety failures contributed to the scale of the loss.

The recognition of Noreen has resonated across Pakistan because her response occurred within seconds during an exceptionally dangerous situation. Healthcare workers are routinely responsible for patients who cannot evacuate themselves during emergencies, making effective safety planning particularly critical in neonatal and intensive-care facilities. The PIMS tragedy has consequently reinforced calls for stronger fire-safety inspections, functioning emergency equipment and clear evacuation procedures in hospitals across the country.

Attention will now remain focused on both Noreen's formal recognition and the continuing investigation into the deaths of the newborns. She is expected to receive the civil decoration on March 23, while the Rs10 million award provides immediate official acknowledgement of her actions. The larger institutional test will be whether lessons from the fire result in lasting safety reforms capable of preventing a similar tragedy in Pakistan's hospitals.