PIMS nursery fire kills 14 newborns

On August 26, 2026, a fire broke out in the neonatal nursery of the Mother and Child Health Ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad, killing 14 newborns. The fire, which started around 7 a.m., spread rapidly, and only one of the 15 infants in the nursery was rescued. Initial reports attributed the cause to an exploding air-conditioning unit or a short circuit, but the official investigation committee has not yet determined the cause. The incident sparked public outrage and grief, with vigils held and demands for accountability. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an immediate investigation and later approved the suspension of eight officials, including the hospital's executive director, and initiated criminal proceedings against those found responsible. The inquiry found that the nursery lacked fire alarms and sprinklers, had inadequate emergency procedures, and that emergency services were called six minutes after the fire started. The government announced compensation of 5 million rupees (about $18,000) for each bereaved family. The tragedy prompted broader reviews of fire-safety measures at hospitals across Pakistan, particularly in Punjab province. Health Secretary Muhammad Aslam Ghauri was dismissed, and a nurse, Razia Noreen, was honored for saving a child. The event is among Pakistan's deadliest recent tragedies involving children.