ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved the immediate suspension of eight officials identified by an inquiry committee in connection with the fatal fire at the neonatal ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), directing authorities to initiate both departmental and criminal proceedings against those held responsible.
Chairing a high-level meeting on the PIMS fire incident, the prime minister was presented with the inquiry committee’s interim report and ordered that action against the identified officials be taken without discrimination.
The officials named in the interim findings include PIMS Executive Director Professor Dr Imran Sikandar, Joint Executive Directors Dr Mutahir Shah and Dr Owais Ali Shah, head of the Neonatal Department Professor Dr Saadia Riaz, senior registrar Dr Naghma, Dr Nousheela Amjad, PIMS Assistant Director Security Muhammad Usman and CDA Emergency Services Director General Dr Abdul Rehman.
The prime minister specifically directed that those responsible should face proceedings not only under departmental rules but also under relevant criminal laws. He also approved action against the security company deployed at PIMS and its officials.
“Those responsible for criminal negligence do not deserve any concession,” the prime minister said, adding that those responsible for the tragedy would be brought to justice.
He directed authorities to ensure exemplary punishment so that, because of anyone’s criminal negligence, no mother would again lose her child.
The prime minister also approved the conferment of the Sitara-e-Khidmat on a nurse who risked her life to save a child during the fire.
He further ordered that a nurse and a female security guard who were present in the ward at the time of the incident be made Officers on Special Duty (OSD) and directed that further investigations involving them be conducted.
Prime Minister Shehbaz instructed Dr Muhammad Salman, CEO of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to take charge as acting executive director of PIMS. He also ordered the immediate appointment of new officials to fill positions vacated by those removed from their posts.
The prime minister directed the government to make the interim inquiry report public immediately. The report is expected to be uploaded on the Ministry of National Health Services’ website.
Also Read: Govt Announces Rs5 Million Compensation for Families of PIMS Fire Victims
Inquiry Finds Major Fire-Safety Failures
The meeting was briefed that the preliminary investigation had found no detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) or training at PIMS specifically dealing with fires or other emergency situations.
Of the hospital’s 13 SOPs, references to fire or emergency situations were found in only two subsections, according to the briefing.
The inquiry further found that supervisory staff were not present on duty when the fire broke out. At the time, two nurses, a female security guard and a house officer were present in the ward.
According to the briefing, the fire spread through and consumed the entire ward in approximately two minutes.
One nurse reportedly risked her life and rescued a child before the flames spread further through the ward.
Emergency services were called six minutes after the fire broke out, while the first emergency response arrived 15 minutes after the call, the meeting was told.
The briefing also highlighted that a fire had occurred at the PIMS nursing hostel in July, only a month before the neonatal ward tragedy. Despite that incident, serious additional safety measures were reportedly not implemented at the hospital.
The neonatal ward had neither a fire alarm nor a sprinkler system, while the inquiry found violations of the World Health Organization’s relevant requirements for neonatal facilities.
The meeting was also told that PIMS had no dedicated officer responsible for fire and emergency situations. Instead, an assistant director had been assigned the responsibility in addition to his regular duties.
PM Expresses Grief Over Deaths
The prime minister described the deaths of innocent children as an “extremely tragic incident” that had left the entire nation grieving.
He expressed sympathy with the bereaved parents, saying that the entire nation, including himself, stood with the families who lost their children.
Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked inquiry committee chairman Shahid Khan and all members for their work and directed them to complete the investigation and submit a more detailed report.
CCTV footage of the incident, lasting approximately two minutes, was also shown during the meeting.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ahsan Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar and Syed Mustafa Kamal, inquiry committee chairman Shahid Khan, committee members Barrister Nabeel Awan and Major General (retd) Khurshid Utra, along with senior officials concerned.
