Probe finds treatment and facilities below global benchmarks, identifies causes of deadly fire and those responsible.
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An inquiry into the deadly fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) nursery has found that treatment and facilities at the hospital fell below global standards, sources said.
The inquiry committee has submitted its report to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after examining the circumstances surrounding the blaze, which killed 14 newborn babies at the hospital’s Mother and Child Centre in Islamabad.
According to sources, the report identifies the causes of the fire as well as those responsible for the failures that contributed to the tragedy. The findings have raised serious questions over the hospital’s infrastructure, emergency preparedness and safety arrangements.
The report also highlights shortcomings in the treatment facilities and overall standards of care, describing them as falling below international benchmarks.
The devastating fire broke out in the nursery on August 26, with only one infant rescued from the affected ward. The incident prompted the government to order a high-level investigation and intensified scrutiny of fire-safety measures at public hospitals.
Earlier reports had pointed to serious safety deficiencies, including concerns over emergency exits and the hospital’s firefighting arrangements. Investigators are expected to recommend measures to prevent similar incidents and fix institutional shortcomings.
