ISLAMABAD, August 26, 2026 (Agencies) — Fourteen newborn infants were killed when a fire tore through the Mother and Child Health ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad early Wednesday, triggering an investigation and widespread demands for accountability.
The fire broke out at around 6:45am in the neonatal nursery on the third floor of the hospital. Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said a blast in an air-conditioning unit appeared to have triggered the fire, while PIMS said its preliminary assessment indicated that a spark inside the nursery rapidly developed into a major blaze in an area supplied with oxygen.
PIMS spokesperson Dr Aneeza Jalil said 15 babies had been in the ward and that at least one infant was rescued by a doctor. Later reports put the number of infants in the ward at 16, with only one child rescued from the nursery.
According to the hospital’s account, two doctors and two nurses on duty immediately raised the alarm and sought assistance from security personnel. Staff attempted to enter the nursery to rescue the babies, but a subsequent blast caused ceilings to collapse. One baby was rescued from the nursery, while four others were rescued from an adjacent room along with three mothers. PIMS said staff also evacuated 73 other patients from the adjoining gynaecology ward.
The Islamabad administration said rescue teams responded to the emergency with six fire brigade vehicles and four ambulances. The fire was brought under control and patients were shifted to safety. PIMS said 35 fire extinguishers installed in the facility were used by staff during the emergency.
However, eyewitness accounts raised questions about the emergency response. Several people told AFP that they waited for assistance and that some were forced to break windows to gain access to the affected area. Witnesses also alleged that some doors were locked and that security personnel prevented people inside from leaving. PIMS rejected those allegations, maintaining that all emergency exits were open and operational.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident and directed authorities to identify those responsible and take strict action. Federal Health Secretary Nadeem Mahboob was removed from his position following the tragedy, while Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said that no person responsible for negligence would be spared, including himself.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep grief over the deaths and called for those responsible to be identified and held accountable under the law. He also directed authorities to strengthen fire-safety measures and emergency protocols in hospitals, particularly in facilities caring for newborns.
The tragedy prompted strong reactions from political leaders and civil society figures, with calls for an independent and transparent investigation. Critics questioned the hospital’s safety arrangements, emergency preparedness and administrative oversight, while demanding accountability for any negligence that may have contributed to the deaths.
The PIMS tragedy has also renewed concerns about fire safety and emergency preparedness in Pakistan’s public hospitals. The incident comes after previous deaths and safety concerns at the hospital, increasing pressure on authorities to establish the precise cause of the fire and determine whether preventable failures contributed to the loss of 14 newborn lives.