Inquiry Committee Formed: PM, President Condole Deaths of 14 Newborns in PIMS Fire, Seek Strict Action

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari have expressed deep sorrow and heartfelt condolences over the deaths of 14 newborns in the devastating fire at PIMS, calling for those responsible to be identified and strict action taken, as the Islamabad district administration constituted a fact-finding committee to ascertain the circumstances and exact cause of the tragedy.

 A notification issued by the Islamabad district magistrate said that a fact-finding committee, headed by the additional deputy commissioner general, had been formed to determine the facts behind the fire.

The members of the committee included the director general of the Capital Emergency Services, the City police station superintendent, the assistant commissioner (Industrial Area), the director general of the Capital Development Authority’s Electrical and Mechanical wing, representatives from PIMS and Islamabad Electric Supply Company.

The committee was tasked with determining the exact cause of the fire, assessing whether adequate and functional fire-safety measures were in place, and evaluating the response time and effectiveness of the rescue and fire-fighting operations. The notification said that a report would be furnished within 24 hours.

PM Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the incident and directed the relevant authorities to investigate the incident. According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), he expressed deep sorrow and grief at the incident and offered his condolences to the bereaved families. “Such a situation involving children is unbearable,” the statement quoted him as saying.

“The circumstances that led to the incident should be thoroughly reviewed, those responsible should be identified, and the strictest possible action should be taken,” he said.

President Zardari expressed heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families. In a statement, the president said that the loss of lives was “heartbreaking and an irreparable loss”.

“Responsibility for the incident should be determined and action should be taken in accordance with the law,” he said. Effective fire safety and emergency arrangements must be ensured in hospitals for the protection of patients, especially newborn babies, the president urged.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said the loss of innocent lives was an unbearable tragedy for the entire nation and expressed heartfelt sympathy and solidarity with the bereaved families.

He called for an impartial investigation into the incident and said that the nation be informed how such a tragedy occurred at a major hospital. “Those responsible for negligence or failing to ensure the safety of patients must be held accountable,” he added, stressing that the federal government must ensure the safety of patients and medical staff at all hospitals under its administration.

Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed deep grief and sorrow over the tragic incident. In a statement, he offered his condolences to the families affected.

He said effective safety measures, fire safety systems and all necessary arrangements to deal with emergencies must be ensured in hospitals to prevent such incidents.

“Any negligence in safety measures is unacceptable,” he said. Gilani urged the relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident and take effective and practical steps to prevent such tragedies in the future.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also expressed profound grief and sorrow over the deaths of the infants. In a statement, he said he was “heartbroken” over the incident and shared equally in the pain and grief of the bereaved parents. The British High Commission in Pakistan termed the incident “heartbreaking news”.

“Our deepest condolences and thoughts are with the parents and families at this unimaginably difficult time,” it said.

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) said in a statement that it was in “deep mourning” over the incident. “The association reiterates that healthcare facilities are designed to protect and restore human lives, yet administrative failure and regulatory oversight lapses have turned these institutions into danger zones,” it said.

It demanded action against officials “whose failure to uphold safety codes resulted in this catastrophe”. It also demanded enforcing strict consequences so that “systemic failure serves as a decisive warning, preventing future lapses across both public and private medical facilities”.

It further said that there should be immediate restructuring and public accountability of health regulatory authorities responsible for enforcing safety protocols, building codes and emergency infrastructure in hospitals.

The PMA also called for “full institutional backing for the grieving parents, ensuring they receive complete legal, financial, and emotional justice”.