14 newborns killed in fire at PIMS Hospital in Islamabad

Health Minister says blaze caused by an explosion in an air-conditioning unit in the children’s intensive care ward

ISLAMABAD:

Fourteen newborn babies were killed on Wednesday after a fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital’s ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital.

According to the district administration, the fire broke out in the hospital’s nursery and rescue teams reached the site immediately after being alerted.

The Capital Emergency Service (CES) and Capital Development Authority (CDA) Fire Department said they responded to the fire and brought the blaze under control. According to the CDA, the fire emergency was reported at around 6:45am, with fire brigade and rescue teams reaching the scene within seven minutes.

Six fire engines and four ambulances took part in the rescue operation. The CDA said FS-01 and FS-05 fire tenders, rescue teams, CES ambulances and the ICT administration were deployed during the response. Cooling operations and an assessment of the site were also completed after the fire was brought under control.

Fifteen newborn infants were in the ward at the time of the fire. Fourteen suffered severe burns and later died, while one child survived and was rescued.

PIMS spokesperson said the bodies of the deceased children had started being handed over to their families, with the remains of nine babies handed over to their relatives so far.

Speaking to the media, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazl Chaudhry said the fire spread because of gas lines and plastic equipment in the ward. “The cause of the fire cannot be determined at this stage,” Chaudhry said, adding that the crime scene was being examined.

“Regardless of how the explosion occurred, the fire spread because of the oxygen supply,” he said. Chaudhry said two doctors, a nurse and other staff members were present in the ward at the time of the incident and remained safe.

Earlier, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the blaze was caused by an explosion in an air-conditioning unit in the children’s intensive care ward. “The presence of oxygen in the ward caused the fire to intensify,” Kamal said.

“As a result, 14 innocent children lost their lives,” he said. Kamal said relevant administrative and enforcement agencies had reached the site to determine the cause of the incident and establish the facts.

The health secretary and officials from the Ministry of Health are also present at PIMS, according to the minister. “The loss of the lives of innocent newborn babies is an extremely heartbreaking tragedy,” Kamal said.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad district administration constituted a fact-finding committee to determine the exact cause of the fire and examine the factors that contributed to its spread. The committee will be headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), ICT, and will include officials from the Capital Development Authority, Islamabad Police, IESCO, PIMS and Capital Emergency Services.

The committee was also tasked with assessing whether adequate and functional fire-safety measures were in place and evaluating the response time and effectiveness of the rescue and firefighting operations. It has been directed to submit its report within 24 hours.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep grief over the deaths and offered condolences to the bereaved families. He called the deaths of the newborns “an extremely heartbreaking and irreparable loss” and directed that those responsible be identified and dealt with according to law.

Zardari also called for effective fire-safety and emergency arrangements to be ensured at hospitals, particularly to protect newborn babies and other patients.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the incident and directed the authorities to conduct an immediate investigation.

اسلام آباد : 26 اگست 2026.

وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف نے پمز ہسپتال کی نرسری میں آتشزدگی کے اندوناک واقعہ میں 14 نومولود جاں بحق ہونے پر گہرے دکھ اور دِلی افسوس کا اظہار کیا. وزیراعظم نے معصوم بچوں کے لواحقین سے دلی اظہار تعزیت کیا۔ وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف نے آتشزدگی کے افسوسناک…

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) August 26, 2026

“Such a situation involving children is irreparable. The circumstances surrounding the incident should be thoroughly examined, those responsible should be identified, and the strictest possible action should be taken,” the prime minister said.

PM Shehbaz expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased newborns.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of the newborns in the PIMS Hospital fire.

“Our deepest sympathies are with the grieving families,” he said, adding, “We stand with the families of the deceased children in this difficult time.”

Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the loss of the innocent lives was an “unbearable tragedy” for the nation. “These innocent children were not merely numbers; they were the hopes, dreams and prayers of grieving families,” Bilawal said.

He called for an impartial investigation to establish how such an incident occurred at Islamabad’s largest government hospital and said those responsible for negligence or failing to ensure the safety of vulnerable patients should be held accountable.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also expressed sorrow over the loss of life and offered condolences to the affected families. He prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident.

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the fire at a sensitive location such as a hospital and the resulting loss of life was deeply distressing. He also prayed for the speedy and complete recovery of those receiving treatment at PIMS.