A painless morning turned deadly
Just after dawn on Wednesday, a blaze erupted in the mother‑and‑child unit of Islamabad’s PIMS hospital, where 14 newborns lost their lives. The reported origins of the fire—a malfunctioning air‑conditioning unit on the third floor—quickly engulfed the room.
By the time rescue crews arrived, the only usable exit was a locked, manned door. Witnesses claim the hospital staff had been absent, and smoke filled the ward, trapping infants and parents in a desperate struggle for survival.
One survivor, Hivsa Walid, recalls rushing her newborn out of the building while the fire roared. She said, We did not think of our belongings; we grabbed the baby and rushed downstairs. Other parents echoed the fear of losing their children and urged authorities to enforce safety protocols.
The incident has prompted Islamabad’s Chief Commissioner, Sohail Ashraf, to demand immediate accountability. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a statement of sorrow and ordered an investigation, suspending the federal health secretary while recognizing the gravity of the loss.
Analysts point to Pakistan’s chronic safety regulation gaps as an underlying factor. Previous incidents, such as the Karachi mall fire, have highlighted how locked exits and inadequate regulations can amplify casualties.
The PIMS case now serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for rigorous fire safety management in healthcare facilities across Pakistan.
