Fire at Islamabad hospital nursery kills at least 14 newborns, PM orders probe
A blaze at the Mother and Child Centre of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad killed at least 14 newborns, prompting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to order an investigation and promise strict action against those responsible.
A fire broke out shortly before 7 a.m. on Wednesday on the third floor of the Mother and Child Centre at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, killing at least 14 newborn babies, according to the prime minister. The blaze was extinguished after the incident, and only one infant was rescued, local broadcaster Geo TV reported.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences to the families of the victims on X and directed authorities to launch an immediate investigation, stating that those responsible would face the "strictest action."
"My deepest condolences to the bereaved families," Sharif said.
Hospital sources cited by Geo TV indicated that the fire may have been caused by a short circuit in a malfunctioning air-conditioning unit. The incident is among the deadliest hospital fires in Pakistan's history and highlights ongoing concerns about safety standards in public facilities.