ISLAMABAD: The initial inquiry into the deadly fire at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) has found serious shortcomings in the hospital’s treatment facilities and emergency preparedness, with the inquiry committee concluding that the hospital’s standards fell well below international benchmarks, sources said Saturday.
The inquiry report, submitted to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, also identified the causes of the tragic incident and determined responsibility for the deaths, according to sources familiar with the findings.
The report was submitted three days after 14 newborn babies died in a fire at the Pims neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Islamabad. The blaze erupted at around 6:45am on August 26 on the third floor of the Mother and Child Health ward, where 15 infants were being treated.
Only one newborn was rescued from the nursery.
The high-level inquiry committee, formed on the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, submitted its report late Friday night to the office of PM’s Adviser Tauqir Hussain Shah.
Former interior secretary Shahid Khan, who headed the inquiry committee, submitted the findings after investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the Pims nursery fire.
Tauqir Hussain Shah subsequently forwarded the report to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and briefed him on its key findings and recommendations.
The decision to make the Pims fire inquiry report public rests with the prime minister, sources said.
According to sources, the inquiry committee recommended immediate action against officials and individuals found responsible for the tragedy.
The report also called for disciplinary proceedings against relevant Pims staff members who were allegedly absent from their duties when the fire broke out.
Investigators examined the hospital’s response to the emergency and documented the difficulties faced by rescue teams during efforts to evacuate the newborns.
Statements from firefighters and rescue personnel were included in the inquiry, along with interviews with Pims administration officials and doctors.
The committee examined both the circumstances that led to the fire and the hospital’s emergency response after the blaze began.
One of the most significant findings was the committee’s assessment of the overall standards at Pims.
The report observed that “nothing was according to international standards” at the hospital, according to sources.
Investigators specifically highlighted deficiencies in treatment and available medical facilities, raising concerns about the hospital’s ability to provide safe and effective care during emergencies.
The findings could increase pressure on the hospital administration and relevant authorities to improve medical infrastructure, fire safety systems and emergency response procedures.
The committee also recommended immediate measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The inquiry committee reviewed the response of rescue teams during the Pims NICU fire and recorded the challenges encountered while attempting to control the blaze and evacuate the infants.
Statements from fire brigade officials and rescue personnel were included in the report to establish how the emergency unfolded.
Doctors and Pims administration officials were also interviewed as part of the investigation.
The committee subsequently proposed measures aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness, fire safety and response mechanisms at the hospital.
The report was signed by all members of the inquiry committee, sources said.
The committee was headed by former interior secretary Shahid Khan and included Major General (retd) Dr Khurshid Utra, Dr Barrister Nabeel Ahmed Awan and Islamabad Deputy Commissioner.
Meanwhile, the Pims administration has decided to keep the hospital fully operational on Sunday.
The administration and accounts branches will also continue working according to their normal schedules.
All relevant officers and staff have been instructed to report for duty during their designated working hours.
According to a circular issued by the hospital administration, unauthorised absence, negligence or failure to follow official orders could result in disciplinary action.
The circular was issued by Deputy Executive Director Dr Aneza Jalil.
The decision comes as authorities face growing scrutiny over staffing, emergency preparedness and safety arrangements following the deaths of 14 newborns in the Pims nursery fire.
The findings of the initial inquiry could pave the way for significant changes in Pims hospital safety protocols, staffing arrangements and emergency response systems.
With the prime minister yet to decide whether to make the full report public, questions remain over the precise responsibilities assigned to individual officials and staff members.
The tragedy has also renewed concerns about safety standards in critical-care hospital units, particularly facilities housing vulnerable newborns who require immediate medical and emergency support.
Authorities are now expected to consider the inquiry committee’s recommendations and take action against those found responsible while implementing measures designed to prevent another deadly hospital fire.
