Story perspectives

14 Newborns Die After Fire at PIMS Nursery

8/30/2026

Center

Sharif Orders Probe

A fire erupted in the nursery of Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences on Wednesday, killing 14 newborns and rescuing one infant.
Officials said a faulty air-conditioning unit caused the blaze.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered investigation, removed Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri and convened a meeting.
Parents of the deceased infants gathered at the hospital demanding answers and irreplaceable justice.

Left

Sharif Suspends

A fire erupted in the nursery of Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences on Wednesday, killing 14 newborns and rescuing one infant.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif suspended eight hospital officials and ordered criminal proceedings, citing the interim report’s findings on safety failures.
The interim report found missing fire-safety protocols and delayed response, sparking public outcry.
The government pledged 5 million rupees compensation per bereaved family.

History

Historical Context

The 1995 Kobe Children’s Hospital fire, which killed ten infants, occurred just weeks after the Jan 17, 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake that claimed 6,434 lives and spurred the city’s disaster-research network, including the Asian Disaster Reduction Center and the WHO Centre for Health Development. The tragedy prompted the Ministry of Health to require sprinklers in 3,000 hospitals nationwide.

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Sharif Orders Probe

A fire erupted in the nursery of Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences on Wednesday, killing 14 newborns and rescuing one infant.
Officials said a faulty air-conditioning unit caused the blaze.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered investigation, removed Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri and convened a meeting.
Parents of the deceased infants gathered at the hospital demanding answers and irreplaceable justice.

1 / 3