Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the suspension of eight officials and directed that criminal proceedings be initiated against those found responsible for a fire that killed 14 newborns at a hospital in Islamabad, his office said on Saturday.
In June, 14 schoolchildren were killed when the roof of an under-construction tutoring centre collapsed in Lahore. Sharif issued the orders after an interim report by an investigative committee found serious lapses in fire safety and emergency preparedness at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). The incident has also prompted wider reviews of fire-safety arrangements at hospitals across Pakistan. Punjab authorities this week ordered an immediate assessment of fire-safety systems, firefighting equipment and emergency-response facilities at hospitals across the province. The fire was among Pakistan’s deadliest recent tragedies involving children.
Incident Overview: Fire Response at Medical Facility
A recent interim report reveals that supervisory staff were absent when a fire broke out in a medical ward. At the time of the incident, two nurses, a female security guard, and a house officer were present. Emergency services were notified six minutes after the fire ignited, and first responders arrived 15 minutes after the emergency call was made.
Fire Safety Failures in Hospital Nursery Highlighted by Investigation
A fire erupted in the third-floor nursery of a hospital on Wednesday, where 15 newborns were receiving care. Officials reported that the fire spread quickly, resulting in the rescue of only one infant by hospital staff.
An investigation revealed that the nursery lacked both a fire alarm and a sprinkler system. Additionally, the committee noted that the hospital did not have comprehensive protocols or sufficient training for staff to effectively respond to fires and other emergencies.