Story perspectives

Sharif Orders Health Secretary Removed After PIMS Nursery Fire

8/27/2026

Summary

Sharif Orders Removal

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri’s removal after the nursery fire.
The fire on Aug 26 2026 killed 14 newborns and rescued one of 15 infants.
Hospital officials said an air-conditioning unit compressor exploded, igniting the third-floor nursery.
Sharif appointed retired federal secretary Shahid Khan to lead a fact-finding committee with a 48-hour recommendation deadline.
Punjab health authorities ordered an immediate review of fire-safety systems in all hospitals.

Summary

Parents Demand Answers

Grieving parents gathered outside PIMS demanding answers and accountability for the nursery fire.
Six fire-engine vehicles and four ambulances rescued ten women, seven children, and two men.
DNA testing will be required to identify the burnt newborns before families receive the bodies.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said oxygen equipment can accelerate fires, highlighting safety gaps in neonatal units.

Summary

Baqaei Condoles Fire Victims

Iran Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei expressed condolences to families of the PIMS maternity-ward fire victims.
Baqaei prayed that grieving fathers and mothers find patience and endurance.
He wished swift recovery and good health for the injured survivors.
The statement highlighted Iran-Pakistan friendly ties and regional concern over Pakistan’s fire-safety crises.

History

Historical Context

Karachi’s fire safety challenges date back to the department’s 1947 founding and repeated tragedies such as the 2007 cotton-factory blaze and the 2023 RJ mall fire that killed 11. The 2015 Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre neonatal fire, which claimed 12 infants, spurred a Rs 2 billion upgrade of fire-suppression systems in 150 public hospitals, echoing long-standing calls for better equipment championed by pediatric pioneer Dr Razia Rahimtoola.

1 of 4

Sharif Orders Removal

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri’s removal after the nursery fire.
The fire on Aug 26 2026 killed 14 newborns and rescued one of 15 infants.
Hospital officials said an air-conditioning unit compressor exploded, igniting the third-floor nursery.
Sharif appointed retired federal secretary Shahid Khan to lead a fact-finding committee with a 48-hour recommendation deadline.
Punjab health authorities ordered an immediate review of fire-safety systems in all hospitals.

1 / 4