Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered action against eight people identified by an inquiry committee over the PIMS fire incident. He approved their suspension and directed authorities to pursue departmental and criminal proceedings against those found responsible.
The inquiry briefing said the fire spread through the neonatal ward in about two minutes. Two nurses, a female security guard and a house officer were present, while supervisory staff were not on duty. One nurse reportedly rescued a child before the flames spread across the ward.
The PIMS fire incident inquiry found that the hospital had no standard operating procedures or training covering fires and other emergencies. Of 13 hospital SOPs, only two sub-sections mentioned fire or emergency situations. Investigators also found no fire alarm or sprinkler system in the affected ward, while the neonatal unit failed to meet World Health Organization safety requirements.
The briefing highlighted delays in the emergency response. Authorities received the emergency call six minutes after the fire started, while the first emergency response arrived 15 minutes later. The committee noted that PIMS had also experienced a nursing hostel fire in July, but said safety measures were not taken afterward.
Those named for action include PIMS Executive Director Professor Dr Imran Sikandar, Joint Executive Directors Dr Mutahir Shah and Chaudhry Dr Owais Ali Shah, Neonatal Department head Professor Dr Sadia Riaz, Senior Registrar Dr Naghma, Dr Noshila Amjad, PIMS Assistant Director Security Muhammad Usman, and CDA Emergency Services Director General Dr Abdul Rehman. The prime minister also approved action against the security company and its officials.
Sharif approved Sitara-e-Khidmat for the nurse who saved a child while risking her life. He ordered another nurse and the female guard present in the ward to be made officers on special duty for further investigation. He also directed Dr Muhammad Salman, CEO of NIH, to serve as acting PIMS executive director and ordered immediate replacement of officials removed from their posts.
The meeting reviewed an interim inquiry report and CCTV footage of the PIMS fire incident, which lasted about two minutes. Sharif ordered the report to be made public and instructed the committee, led by Shahid Khan, to complete its investigation and submit a detailed report. He said those responsible for criminal negligence would receive no concession and that the victims’ families deserved justice. Federal ministers Ahsan Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar and Syed Mustafa Kamal, committee members and senior officials attended.
