PIMS inquiry report blames administrative failures for deaths of 14 newborns

A 43-page inquiry report into the fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad has blamed the hospital’s administrative failures for the deaths of 14 newborn babies. According to the report, one other newborn was rescued safely during the incident. The inquiry committee found serious shortcomings in the hospital’s fire safety arrangements despite previous identification of such deficiencies. It said adequate preventive and safety measures had not been implemented. The report said CCTV cameras at the hospital were affected at around 6: 39am, after which the fire spread. The committee found no evidence that the fire was deliberately set or caused by an oxygen leak. However, it said the nursery did not have an effective automatic fire detection system. The report said the fire originated from an electrical cable connected to air conditioner No. 2 after a short circuit. Technical evidence from the National Forensics Agency ruled out an incubator or warmer as the source of the fire. The 10-bed nursery was overcrowded, with 15 newborns receiving treatment at the time. Most of the babies were dependent on oxygen or respiratory support. The presence of combustible material and an oxygen-rich environment intensified the fire and smoke, the report said. It also found that the nursery lacked safe evacuation facilities and had no standard operating procedure for the emergency evacuation of newborns. No functioning sprinkler or alarm system was available. The inquiry committee said a significant delay in seeking external assistance after the fire was detected contributed to the tragedy. External assistance was dispatched at 6: 55am, while operational teams reached the scene at 7: 01am. The report also acknowledged the efforts of frontline medical staff, rejecting allegations that they abandoned the newborns. It specifically praised nurse Raziya Noreen, who risked her life to rescue one newborn and attempted to re-enter the nursery to save other babies. Dr Abdul Rehman was also present at the scene and participated in rescue efforts, according to the report. The committee said the deaths were not caused by a single failure but by multiple safety measures that were either absent, not activated in time or had remained deficient for years. It noted that the Capital Development Authority and Federal Ombudsman had previously highlighted fire safety shortcomings. PIMS administration had also acknowledged in 2025 that its safety system was outdated. Despite this, the report said the hospital and its senior administration bore primary institutional responsibility for failing to improve the system. The committee recommended further criminal investigations into the delay in seeking external assistance, electrical maintenance and the role of contractors. It also recommended immediate electrical and fire safety audits at all hospitals and the establishment of effective safety and administrative systems.

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