Dr Muhammad Salman has taken over as the executive director of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), a day after the prime minister suspended several senior officials in the wake of a fire that claimed the lives of 14 newborn babies. Salman, who is also the chief executive officer of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has been appointed to the PIMS executive director position for three years or until a permanent replacement is found.
He will serve on deputation while retaining his additional responsibilities at NIH, as confirmed by a government notification. Upon assuming his new role, Salman convened a meeting with the heads of various PIMS departments, attended by senior hospital officials and directors, to discuss immediate administrative matters.
In a significant development, the government also appointed replacements for other officials suspended following the interim inquiry into the August 26 fire at PIMS’ Mother and Child Health Centre. Executive Director Rana Imran Sikandar has been suspended for 120 days, alongside Joint Executive Director (Non-Medical) Chaudhry Waris Ali Raza, Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Dr Nosheela Amjad, Joint Executive Director of the Children’s Hospital Dr Mutahir Shah, Senior Registrar Obstetrics and Gynaecology Dr Naghma Nawaz, Associate Professor of Paediatrics Dr Sadia Riaz, and Assistant Director Security Muhammad Usman, all suspended for the same duration.
Dr Altaf Hussain has been assigned additional charge as joint executive director (non-medical), while Dr Shmeela now heads Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Dr Nuzhat Yasmeen has taken on additional charge as joint executive director of the Children’s Hospital, with Dr Amina appointed senior registrar at the Mother and Child Centre. Dr Rahmana has been given charge of associate professor of paediatrics at the Children’s Hospital, and Hassan Ashraf has assumed additional charge as assistant director security.
In-charge Nurse Nasreen and female security staff member Maria, who were present during the fire, have been placed in the administrative pool pending further investigation. These appointments follow Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directive to initiate departmental and criminal proceedings against officials identified by the inquiry committee examining the tragedy.
The committee’s interim report revealed severe deficiencies in PIMS’ fire preparedness, emergency response, and management systems, though it did not conclusively identify the fire’s source. It recommended further forensic, technical, and documentary investigations before assigning individual responsibility.
The inquiry reconstructed the incident using CCTV footage, noting that the first visible signs of the emergency appeared around 6:38 am, with smoke rapidly filling the nursery and obscuring visibility within two minutes. The footage showed Nurse Nasreen and security guard Maria entering the nursery, followed by staff nurse Razia Noreen, who rescued a baby before attempting to re-enter the area.
The report found that PIMS lacked a detailed, regularly rehearsed evacuation plan specific to the neonatal nursery. Although the hospital had 13 standard operating procedures, only two referenced fire or emergency protocols. There were no comprehensive procedures for fire detection, alarm activation, external notifications, incident command, extinguisher use, oxygen or electrical isolation, emergency exits, evacuation priorities, or safe relocation of newborns.
The inquiry also criticized the hospital’s fire detection and alarm systems, emergency exits, and evacuation arrangements, describing overall fire and life-safety measures as inadequate. Capital Emergency Services reported that some emergency exits and escape routes were locked or obstructed, requiring firefighters to forcibly open doors and access points. However, the inquiry is still verifying the status and location of these doors before assigning responsibility.
Regarding emergency response, the first recorded call to Capital Emergency Services was at approximately 6:54 am, about 16 minutes after the fire was first visible on CCTV. The dispatched response team arrived at the hospital around 7:01 am. The committee noted evidence of an earlier call but has not yet attributed any delay in notification to specific individuals or agencies.
The investigation also referenced a prior fire on July 6 at the PIMS nursing hostel. Recommendations following that incident included a comprehensive fire-safety audit, improved alarms and evacuation protocols, upgraded firefighting equipment, electrical inspections, and staff training. The committee found that these corrective measures had not been adequately implemented before the neonatal nursery fire.
Additionally, PIMS lacked a dedicated officer for fire and emergency management, assigning this responsibility as an additional duty to an assistant director. The interim report stated the exact cause of the fire remains unresolved, with various accounts attributing it to an air conditioner, incubator, warmer, electrical short circuit, or overloaded plug. While an internal electrical or equipment-related origin is possible, pinpointing a specific cause is premature.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered criminal proceedings against officials identified by the inquiry, alongside departmental actions. He has also called for a review of the contract and license of the private security company deployed at PIMS, with further actions contingent on findings of contractual violations. The prime minister directed the interim inquiry report to be made public, and it was subsequently uploaded to the Ministry of National Health Services website.
The inquiry committee, led by former federal secretary Shahid Khan, has been tasked with completing its investigation and submitting a comprehensive report. The government has recognized the bravery of staff nurse Razia Noreen, who rescued a baby during the fire, awarding her the Sitara-i-Khidmat and a cash prize of Rs1 million.
This tragedy has sparked demands for enhanced accountability and improvements in hospital safety measures. The National Assembly’s health committee has raised concerns about safety protocols at PIMS, while a petition has been filed in the Islamabad High Court challenging the alleged failure to implement fire-safety laws in the capital.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) has instructed health facilities in the capital to review and upgrade their fire and life-safety arrangements within seven days. The regulator’s letter mandates that facilities ensure patient and staff safety by aligning with modern fire and life-safety standards.
Healthcare institutions have been directed to obtain fire-safety no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Fire Department and to install fire-protection systems through registered contractors. Required measures include the installation and maintenance of fire detection, alarm and suppression systems, hydrants, and firefighting equipment.
