The inquiry committee appointed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to investigate the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) fire, which claimed the lives of 14 newborn babies, has officially started its investigation. The panel is scrutinizing the emergency response and the circumstances leading to the tragic blaze at the Mother and Child Hospital (MCH) nursery.
On Thursday, the committee members visited the Fire Brigade Headquarters in Islamabad, where they obtained statements from officials and personnel of the Capital Emergency Services who were involved in the rescue operation. The investigation includes a detailed review of the timeline from the fire’s outbreak to the arrival of rescue teams, emphasizing the fire brigade’s response time and operational challenges encountered during the emergency.
In a significant development, the committee is also assessing the hospital’s fire safety protocols, emergency response systems, and any administrative or technical shortcomings that may have contributed to the disaster. Led by retired federal secretary Shahid Khan, the panel is expected to submit an interim report to the prime minister within 48 hours, followed by a comprehensive report within five days detailing its findings and recommendations.
The investigation aims to determine the fire’s origin, establish an accurate timeline, evaluate the actions of hospital staff, firefighters, and rescue agencies, and identify any negligence or lapses. The panel will also propose accountability measures and suggest improvements to prevent similar incidents.
Meanwhile, PIMS has reformed its own internal inquiry committee to probe the incident. Dr. Atif Inam Shami has been appointed as chairman of the newly constituted four-member panel, which includes Deputy Executive Director Dr. Aneza Jaleel, Dr. Altaf Hussain, and Dr. Sajjad Rafiq Abbasi. The reconstitution was necessary due to the absence of Professor Qasim Mahmood Butt, a member of the previous committee. This committee has also been tasked with submitting its findings within 48 hours.
The internal committee will investigate the precise cause of the fire, evaluate fire safety measures at the nursery, review the rescue operation’s effectiveness, and assess emergency response times. It will identify responsible parties and recommend strict action where warranted. Notably, Dr. Aneza Jaleel has already provided her statement to the prime minister’s inquiry panel.
The reconstitution of PIMS’ committee comes amid conflicting narratives about the fire’s cause and increasing scrutiny of the hospital’s electrical and oxygen infrastructure, fire safety arrangements, and emergency protocols.
Earlier, the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination initiated a separate inquiry. During its visit to PIMS, the committee highlighted discrepancies in reports regarding the fire’s origin. Chairman Mahesh Kumar Malani emphasized that the panel would conduct an independent investigation rather than relying solely on the government’s inquiry.
Malani noted that the cause of the fire remains unclear, with varying accounts from hospital staff. While Health Minister Mustafa Kamal suggested the fire was triggered by a spark in an air conditioner, the committee received contradictory information, including suggestions of a spark caused by a bundle of wires or an oxygen-related fault. No eyewitness could confirm the exact source of the spark.
The committee also examined the hospital’s initial claim that the fire started around 6:38 am in the nursery due to a spark that rapidly spread because of oxygen points installed at incubators. However, Malani revealed that the old air conditioner reportedly had not been operational for some time, with two portable units in use, and the hospital’s executive director agreed the spark did not originate from the air conditioner.
Questions were also raised about the nursery’s condition and suitability. Malani pointed out that the nursery was housed in a building from 1990 and questioned why newborns were kept there when a newer, better-equipped block was available. He described the nursery as unfit for infants, noting it was originally intended as a gynecology ward.
Committee members probed the maintenance of the nursery, highlighting concerns over exposed wiring and the presence of an old air conditioner. They questioned why such hazards persisted if routine maintenance was conducted. The panel also requested details about the budget allocated for the Mother and Child Health Care Centre and the utilization of those funds, along with records of inspections of the hospital’s oxygen and electrical systems.
The committee is scrutinizing fire safety and emergency preparedness at PIMS, including the frequency of fire drills and the most recent safety audits. Committee member Gul Asghar Khan inquired about the timing of the last fire drill, while PPP MNA Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro raised concerns regarding conflicting reports about the functionality of fire alarms and whether staff were present when the fire started.
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl MNA Aliya Kamran alleged that nurses may have been coached on their statements and questioned the doctor on duty’s account, accusing hospital staff of leaving the infants unattended during the fire. Kamran called for the resignation of the health minister, while Soomro demanded the executive director of PIMS and the health minister step down on moral grounds.
Despite these allegations, the committee emphasized the need for consulting technical experts before reaching any definitive conclusions about the fire’s cause.
