President Zardari approves Tamgha-e-Shujaat for PIMS nurse Razia Noreen

The prime minister has approved the conferment of the Sitara-e-Khidmat and the cash reward for her last week

President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday approved the conferment of the Tamgha-e-Shujaat upon Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) staff nurse Razia Noreen, who demonstrated exceptional courage by risking her life to rescue the sole surviving child during a fire incident at the hospital.

On August 26, 14 newborns were killed after a fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital at PIMS in Islamabad, triggering widespread outrage and demands from people and political parties for action against those responsible. The prime minister had approved the conferment of the Sitara-e-Khidmat and the cash reward for her.

President Zardari also approved other summaries on different legislative and institutional matters, including the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) Amendment Bill, 2026; the Standard Time (Interpretation of References) Amendment Bill, 2026; and another bill related to the environmentally sound management of hazardous materials in ships, besides approving the Revision of the Table of Organisation and Equipment (TOE) for the Armed Forces Institute of Urology (AFIU), Rawalpindi.

Read: Judicial commission may be formed if PIMS probe fails to satisfy: Mustafa Kamal

On September 3, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met the nurse Noreen who saved a newborn’s life during the recent fire at the PIMS and awarded her a cheque of Rs10 million in recognition of her extraordinary bravery and sense of duty.

In a meeting held at the PM Office in Islamabad, the premier said, “Nurse Razia Noreen, by placing her own life in danger, saved the newborn with courage … for this noble act, may Allah Almighty bestow abundant reward,” adding that the entire nation took pride in her and acknowledged her bravery.

The monetary reward carried its own meaning; the real recognition was that she truly deserved this honour, he added. He further announced that the Sitara-e-Khidmat would be conferred on her on March 23, 2027, in recognition of her extraordinary services.

Inquiry report finds systemic, institutional failures at fault in PIMS nursery fire

The inquiry committee constituted by the prime minister to investigate the August 26 fire at the PIMS nursery that claimed the lives of 14 newborns has concluded that the tragedy culminated as a result of “systemic and institutional failures”, with the hospital and its senior management bearing primary responsibility for failing to address known safety risks.

The report, based on a 52-point investigation, found that multiple safety measures were either absent, inadequate, not activated in time or had never been independently verified.

“The Committee therefore concludes that systemic and institutional failure is established, while individual responsibility varies with the strength of the evidence. PIMS and its senior management bear the principal institutional responsibility for failing to convert known risks, prior warnings and assigned duties into an effective safety system,” the detailed inquiry report read.

The fire claimed the lives of 14 of the 15 newborn babies undergoing treatment at the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) nursery, while one child survived due to a nurse’s diligence.

Read more: PM Shehbaz awards Rs10m cheque to nurse who saved newborn during PIMS fire

“The consequences were magnified by the Nursery's vulnerability. Fifteen medically fragile, non-self-evacuating neonates were housed in a 10-bed unit, several dependent on oxygen or respiratory support, while only two doctors and two nurses were immediately available and protected evacuation resources were limited,” the report underscored.

According to the report, the committee reviewed forensic evidence, CCTV footage, call records, engineering and maintenance documents, medical and accident records, duty and attendance records, witness statements, regulatory records and previous inquiries. 

The committee concluded that the criminal responsibility of an individual would have to be determined separately under the relevant rules and based on available evidence.

It placed primary institutional responsibility on PIMS and its senior management for failing to convert known risks and earlier warnings into an effective safety system.