At least 15 newborn babies lost their lives after a fire broke out in the nursery of the Mother and Child Hospital (MCH) at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad early Wednesday, officials said.
According to PIMS officials, the nursery housed newborn babies who were either in incubators or receiving oxygen when the fire erupted at around 6:45am.
PIMS spokesperson Dr Aneeza Jalil said 15 babies were present in the ward, with one newborn rescued by a doctor. However, hospital documents indicated that 14 newborns were under treatment/admitted, while a 15th baby was rescued.
Details of newborns
Hospital records identified the newborns admitted to the ward as follows:
| Mother | Father | Status / Details |
|---|---|---|
| Javeria | Samiullah | Newborn |
| Alia | Rashid | Newborn |
| Anisa | Abdullah | Newborn |
| Asia Bibi | Bahadur | Twin 1 |
| Asia Bibi | Bahadur | Twin 2 |
| Shakila | Muhammad Tanveer | Newborn |
| Sidra | Imran | Newborn |
| Sumbal | Usman | Newborn |
| Kiran Fatima | Muhammad Saad-ur-Rehman | Newborn |
| Amina | Khurram | Newborn |
| Maria | Qayyum | Newborn |
| Khizra | Mudassar | Newborn |
| Hafsa | Ishtiaq | MLC case |
| Aroosa Saeed | Idris Khan | Newborn |
| Asifa | Waqas | Rescued |
Officials said the children were severely affected by the fire, with the district administration confirming that 14 infants had died.
CDA probe blames locked PIMS exits but stays silent on rescue response failures
The CDA Fire and Disaster Management has released its report on the fire that broke out at the children’s nursery ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.
According to the CDA report, the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit or plug overloading. The fire emergency call was received at 6:54am, while the first fire tender and rescue van reached the scene within six minutes.
The report said 19 people, including seven children, were safely evacuated from the nursery ward. Those affected included seven children, 10 women and two men. However, seven children lost their lives in the PIMS nursery fire, according to the CDA report.
The CDA found that fire and life-safety arrangements in the nursery ward were inadequate and did not meet required standards. The report further revealed that the emergency exits of the nursery ward were permanently locked from outside and obstructed, affecting evacuation and life-saving measures during the fire.
However, while the CDA report points to locked exits, hospital security and poor safety arrangements, it offers no explanation of its rescue response and the alleged failures that delayed efforts to save the newborns.
The firefighting operation involved six CDA fire tenders, six ambulances and one rescue van. A total of 44 operational personnel and six officers, including a water bowser team, were deployed for the operation.
Teams from G-10, I-9, G-5 and Fire Headquarters (FHQ) also reached the site to assist in the emergency response.
Eyewitness reveals shocking details of PIMS incident
An eyewitness has revealed harrowing details of the fire that broke out in the nursery of the Mother and Child Hospital (MCH) at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.
Muniba, who said she had been at the hospital for the past two days with her sister-in-law following the birth of her nephew, claimed that the fire erupted in the PIMS nursery at around 6am.
According to the eyewitness, hospital staff allegedly fled the area without informing families or helping them evacuate. She said a woman eventually raised the alarm and alerted others that a fire had broken out.
“When I reached the nursery, the fire had become very intense,” Muniba said, adding that she managed to rescue her newborn nephew and another woman before making her way out.
She further alleged that hospital staff stopped them from leaving the building and told them not to go outside, fearing that news of the incident would spread.
Muniba claimed that the alleged negligence and delay in evacuation resulted in several babies being trapped in the fire.
“My nephew is safe because I personally brought him out safely,” she said.
According to PIMS officials, the nursery housed newborn babies who were either in incubators or receiving oxygen when the fire erupted. Officials said the incident resulted in the deaths of at least 15 newborn babies.
PM Shehbaz removes Federal Health Secretary
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the immediate removal of Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghori following the deaths of newborn babies in a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
A high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is currently underway to review the tragic incident at the PIMS hospital.
The prime minister expressed severe displeasure with the relevant officials over the deaths of newborns and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz ordered the immediate suspension and removal of Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghori from his post.
The prime minister also constituted a high-level inquiry committee to conduct a detailed investigation into the PIMS incident and determine responsibility.
Former interior secretary Shahid Khan has been appointed chairman of the inquiry committee.
Other members of the committee include Establishment Secretary Dr Barrister Navel Awan and other relevant officials.
The committee will investigate the circumstances that led to the deaths of the newborns and examine whether any negligence or failure in safety and emergency arrangements contributed to the tragedy.
PM summons emergency meeting
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has summoned an emergency meeting in Islamabad following the tragic fire at the nursery of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), which claimed the lives of 14 newborn babies.
Officials from the Ministry of Health, PIMS administration, district administration, police, fire brigade and other relevant institutions have been called to attend the meeting.
The meeting will review the circumstances surrounding the fire, its possible causes, the rescue operation and the fire-safety arrangements at the PIMS nursery.
Prime Minister Shehbaz had already taken notice of the incident and ordered an immediate investigation. He directed authorities to determine the factors that led to the fire and identify any officials responsible for negligence or failure to perform their duties.
Fire breaks out on third floor
According to the Islamabad district administration, the fire erupted on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital’s MCH ward.
Rescue teams were dispatched immediately after receiving information about the incident. Six fire brigade vehicles and four ambulances participated in the rescue operation.
The fire was brought under control and the affected children were shifted to the intensive care unit. However, 14 newborns could not be saved.
Mothers of babies affected by the PIMS Hospital nursery fire question the circumstances, alleging that the doors were closed and no doctors or nurses were present in the ward. They demand answers over the tragic deaths of their newborns. pic.twitter.com/ccCIKcjPko
— P Connect (@ConnectingPak) August 26, 2026
Serious questions over fire safety
The tragedy has also raised serious questions about fire-safety arrangements at the hospital.
Rescue sources described the hospital’s fire-safety arrangements as inadequate, saying there was reportedly no water available at the fire point and that couplings were missing from the fire hose.
The sources also alleged that emergency evacuation routes had been locked.
According to rescue sources, no doctors, ward boys or other staff members were present inside the incubation centre when the fire broke out.
Parents also alleged that staff members were absent from the incubation centre at the time of the incident.
Malik Israr, whose niece was admitted to the gynaecology ward, told Dawn that renovation and repair work was ongoing in the building.
He said patients were asked to vacate the building after the fire erupted, forcing women who had recently given birth to rush down the stairs.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal reacts to PIMS fire
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the fire was triggered by a blast in an air-conditioner, after which flames spread rapidly through the ward. He said the blast also caused the hospital’s electricity supply to go out immediately.
Mustafa Kamal said the fire spread extremely quickly because of the conditions inside the ward, including the presence of oxygen tanks.
“I am in Karachi and travelling to Islamabad, he said, adding that relevant authorities were in contact with the parents.
“The fire spread very quickly, and the hospital’s electricity also went out immediately with the explosion,” Kamal said.
According to the health minister, Pims executive director was present at the site and remained in continuous contact with him.
Eight-member inquiry committee formed
The Islamabad district administration has constituted an eight-member fact-finding committee to investigate the incident.
The committee is headed by the additional deputy commissioner general and includes officials from Capital Emergency Services, Islamabad Police, the Industrial Area administration, the Capital Development Authority, PIMS and the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO).
The committee has been tasked with determining the exact cause of the fire, examining whether adequate and functional fire-safety arrangements were available, and assessing the response time and effectiveness of the rescue and firefighting operations.
The committee has been directed to submit its report within 24 hours.
The MCH ward was sealed following the incident.
PM Shehbaz orders immediate investigation
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the tragedy and ordered an immediate investigation.
Expressing deep sorrow over the deaths, the prime minister said the loss of children was unbearable and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families.
He directed authorities to conduct a detailed review of the factors that led to the incident and identify those responsible.
The prime minister also summoned an emergency meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, with relevant officials and heads of concerned institutions called to attend.
President Zardari expresses grief
President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed condolences to the families of the newborns.
He described the deaths as heartbreaking and an irreparable loss, stressing that responsibility for the incident must be determined and action taken according to the law.
The president called for effective fire-safety and emergency arrangements in hospitals, particularly for the protection of vulnerable patients and newborn babies.
Political leaders demand safety measures
Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed deep grief over the tragedy and called for effective fire-safety systems and emergency arrangements in hospitals.
He said negligence in safety measures was unacceptable and urged authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation and take practical measures to prevent similar incidents.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also expressed profound sorrow, saying he shared the pain and grief of the bereaved parents.
PMA calls for accountability
The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) said it was in deep mourning over the deaths and demanded action against officials whose alleged failure to maintain safety standards contributed to the catastrophe.
The association said healthcare facilities are meant to protect human lives but warned that administrative failures and regulatory lapses can turn hospitals into dangerous environments.
The PMA called for strict enforcement of fire-safety codes, building regulations and emergency protocols at public and private healthcare facilities.
It also demanded greater accountability of health regulatory authorities and called for institutional support for the grieving families, including legal, financial and emotional assistance.
PIMS: Islamabad’s largest public-sector hospital
Established in 1985, PIMS is Islamabad’s largest public-sector hospital and one of the capital’s major healthcare institutions. The facility comprises several hospitals and teaching institutes and caters to a large number of patients from Islamabad and surrounding areas.
The deadly fire has once again raised concerns over fire safety in major public buildings across Pakistan, where inadequate safety arrangements, weak enforcement of building codes and poor emergency preparedness have frequently been cited as contributing factors in major fires.
Authorities are now expected to determine how the fire started, why it spread so rapidly, whether required safety equipment was functional and why evacuation and emergency response arrangements may have failed.
The findings of the inquiry committee are expected within 24 hours and could determine responsibility for one of the most devastating hospital tragedies in the capital.
Also read: Patients raise concerns over hygiene conditions at Islamabad’s PIMS hospital