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.
The prime minister has also directed Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal to immediately travel to Islamabad, visit PIMS and personally assess the situation. The minister will brief the premier on the incident and the measures being taken at the hospital.
The emergency meeting will also examine how the fire started, how quickly it spread, whether the fire-safety arrangements were adequate and effective, and how the hospital administration responded to the emergency.
Expressing deep grief over the deaths, Prime Minister Shehbaz extended his condolences to the bereaved parents and families. He said the loss of newborn lives was an extremely tragic and irreparable incident.
The prime minister stressed that the facts must be brought to light through a transparent investigation and that strict action would be taken against those found responsible for negligence.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal had earlier said that the presence of oxygen in the children’s ward contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. He said a committee had also been formed to conduct a detailed investigation into the incident.
Meanwhile, DNA samples of the deceased infants and their parents will be collected to assist authorities in confirming the identities of the newborns.
The emergency meeting is expected to review all aspects of the tragedy and take important decisions regarding responsibility, hospital safety measures and the future course of action.