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. According to the PIMS spokesperson, 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. The spokesperson said that all the bodies of the deceased children had been handed over to their families. PM suspends health secretary Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired an emergency meeting and ordered the “strictest action”, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The prime minister expressed strong displeasure over the incident and suspended Health Secretary Aslam Ghori, asking him to leave the meeting, the PMO said. PM Shehbaz also expressed his condolences to the parents of the newborns who died in the fire. “My heart is deeply saddened by this tragic incident. We share the parents’ grief. May Allah Almighty grant the bereaved families patience,” the prime minister said. The PMO said an inquiry committee formed by the prime minister to conduct a high-level investigation into the incident had begun its work. "Former interior secretary Shahid Khan will head the committee, while Establishment Secretary Dr Barrister Nabeel Awan will serve as a member," according to the PMO. پمز ہسپتال میں نومولود بچوں کی ہلاکت کا معاملہ، وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف کی زیر صدارت اعلیٰ سطحی اجلاس شروع ہوگیا. وزیراعظم نے متعلقہ افسران پر شدید برہمی کا اظہار کیا. وزیراعظم نے وفاقی سیکرٹری صحت اسلم غوری کو فوری طور پر معطل کر کے عہدے سے ہٹا دیا.وزیراعظم نے اعلیٰ سطحی… — Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) August 26, 2026 Earlier, sources said the prime minister had summoned senior officials of the Ministry of Health to the Prime Minister’s House for an emergency meeting following the incident. PM Shehbaz had also directed Health Minister Mustafa Kamal to reach Islamabad immediately, visit PIMS to assess the situation and submit a report, sources said. Notification issued to probe PIMS fire Later, a notification was issued at the prime minister’s direction to constitute a high-level inquiry committee. Retired federal secretary Shahid Khan was appointed chairman of the committee, while retired Major General Dr Khurshid Utra, Dr Barrister Nabeel Ahmed Awan and the deputy commissioner of Islamabad were named as its members. The committee will determine the immediate cause of the fire and establish a timeline of the incident. It will also review the emergency response and rescue operations by hospital staff, the fire brigade, Rescue 1122 and other relevant agencies. It will examine compliance with emergency standard operating procedures for the evacuation of newborn babies, particularly high-risk neonates. The committee will conduct a detailed review of the fire-safety infrastructure at PIMS and compliance with safety regulations. It will also determine responsibility and any negligence on the part of individuals involved in the incident. The committee will recommend necessary reforms to PIMS’ administrative system to prevent similar incidents in the future. According to the terms of reference laid out in the notification, the committee will submit an interim report to the prime minister within 48 hours, containing recommendations requiring immediate action. It will submit a comprehensive report containing the findings of the inquiry and actionable recommendations within five days. The Ministry of National Health Services has been directed to immediately notify the inquiry committee and provide it with the necessary assistance. Spark triggered PIMS nursery fire, preliminary report says A preliminary report into the fire at the MCH Nursery of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) said a spark triggered the blaze early on Wednesday, which spread rapidly and resulted in the loss of neonatal lives. According to a report shared by the PIMS spokesperson, the fire broke out at around 6:38am on Aug 26, 2026, after a spark inside the nursery triggered a massive blaze that erupted within seconds due to the oxygen points at each incubator. The report said two doctors and two nurses on duty were inside the nursery when the fire broke out. They immediately responded and called security staff for assistance, who joined efforts to evacuate the babies. The staff made two attempts to enter the nursery and rescue the infants. At around 6:39am, a huge blast occurred, causing the ceilings to collapse, according to the report. Duty staff managed to rescue one baby from the nursery and four babies from an adjacent room, along with three mothers. The staff also rescued 73 other admitted patients from the adjacent Gynae ward on the same floor within minutes, the report said. All available fire safety equipment, including 35 fire extinguishers, was used by the staff to contain the fire. The report said all emergency exits were fully open and operational. “Our prayers and deepest sympathies are with the bereaved families—every human life is precious, and every newborn represents hope and a future,” the spokesperson said. The PIMS spokesperson said its doctors, nurses and staff worked tirelessly every day to save lives, often under tremendous pressure. “The incident is being transparently investigated at different forums, and the findings are awaited,” the spokesperson said. PIMS expressed its deepest condolences to the families who suffered the loss and acknowledged the efforts of its staff and emergency responders, saying they responded to the incident and helped prevent further loss of life and property. Ministers speak to the media 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. وفاقی وزیرداخلہ محسن نقوی کا پمز ہسپتال میں آتشزدگی سے 14 نومولود بچوں کے جاں بحق ہونے کے واقعہ پر گہرے دکھ اور افسوس کا اظہار وفاقی وزیرداخلہ کا جاں بحق بچوں کے لواحقین سے دلی ہمدردی اور تعزیت کا اظہار پمز ہسپتال میں انتہائی دلخراش اور افسوسناک واقعہ پیش آیا۔ — Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) August 26, 2026 “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. As a result, 14 innocent children lost their lives,” he added. 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. Later, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, who visited PIMS on the special instructions of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, said the rescue operation was completed in a timely and effective manner. He said rescue teams reached the site within six to seven minutes of being alerted and immediately began operations, while all relevant administrative officers remained at the scene until the rescue operation was completed. Chaudhry said strict action would be taken against those found responsible for negligence in the tragic incident. “Those involved in the incident will be given the harshest punishment in accordance with the law,” he said. He said the complete rescue operation report had been sent to the interior minister and PM Shehbaz. “The investigation into the incident and the process of determining those responsible is ongoing,” Chaudhry said. Fact-finding committee constituted 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. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Law Barrister Aqeel Malik expressed deep grief over the deaths of 14 newborn babies in the PIMS fire, describing the incident as “extremely heartbreaking and unbearable”. پمز اسپتال میں 14 معصوم بچوں کے جھلس کر جاں بحق ہونے کا افسوسناک واقعہ انتہائی دلخراش اور ناقابلِ برداشت ہے۔ واقعے کی مکمل، شفاف اور غیر جانب دارانہ تحقیقات کی جائیں گی تاکہ اس سانحے کی اصل وجوہات اور ممکنہ غفلت کا تعین کیا جا سکے۔ کسی بھی سطح پر غفلت یا کوتاہی ثابت ہونے کی صورت… — Barrister Aqeel Malik (@BrAqeelMalik) August 26, 2026 He said, "A complete, transparent and impartial investigation would be conducted to determine the actual cause of the tragedy and establish whether there had been any negligence. Those found responsible for any negligence or dereliction of duty would face strict legal action." Malik extended his sympathies to the bereaved parents and families and prayed for the deceased children to be granted a high place in Allah’s mercy and for their families to be given patience. Political leadership expresses condolences 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. President Zardari also called for effective fire-safety and emergency arrangements to be ensured at hospitals, particularly to protect newborn babies and other patients. PM Shehbaz also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased newborns. “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. 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 The Interior minister also expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of the newborns in the PIMS Hospital fire. وفاقی وزیرداخلہ محسن نقوی کا پمز ہسپتال میں آتشزدگی سے 14 نومولود بچوں کے جاں بحق ہونے کے واقعہ پر گہرے دکھ اور افسوس کا اظہار وفاقی وزیرداخلہ کا جاں بحق بچوں کے لواحقین سے دلی ہمدردی اور تعزیت کا اظہار پمز ہسپتال میں انتہائی دلخراش اور افسوسناک واقعہ پیش آیا۔ — Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) August 26, 2026 “Our deepest sympathies are with the grieving families,” he said, adding, “We stand with the families of the deceased children in this difficult time.” Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also issued a statement, “Deeply saddened and heartbroken by the tragic fire at the nursery of PIMS Hospital, in which 14 newborns lost their lives." Deeply saddened and heartbroken by the tragic fire at the nursery of PIMS Hospital, in which 14 newborns lost their lives. My deepest condolences to the bereaved parents and families. No words can ease the pain of losing an innocent child. May Allah Almighty grant the families… — Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) August 26, 2026 Dar said an immediate and thorough investigation would be conducted on the prime minister’s orders to establish the causes of the incident and ensure those responsible faced “the strictest action”. “The safety of our children must remain paramount,” he said. 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. National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq described the incident as a heartbreaking and irreparable tragedy. He extended condolences and solidarity to the bereaved families, saying the entire nation stood with them in their hour of grief. Speaker National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has expressed profound grief, sorrow and anguish over the death of 15 newborn babies in a fire that broke out in the nursery ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad. In his condolence message, Speaker… — National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) August 26, 2026 Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif expressed grief over the deaths of 14 newborns in the PIMS fire, calling for strict action against those responsible and measures to prevent such incidents in the future. پمز ہسپتال میں آتشزدگی کے سانحے میں 14 معصوم بچوں کے جاں بحق ہونے کی خبر سن کر دل رنجیدہ ہے۔ میں غمزدہ والدین کے غم میں برابر کا شریک ہوں۔ اللہ تعالیٰ لواحقین کو صبر جمیل عطا فرمائے۔ حکومت کو ذمہ داروں کا تعین کر کے سخت کارروائی کرنی چاہئے اور آئندہ ایسے واقعات کی روک تھام کو… — Nawaz Sharif (@NawazSharifMNS) August 26, 2026 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. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of newborn babies in the fire at the nursery of PIMS Hospital in Islamabad. Kundi described the deaths of the innocent newborns as an “extremely heartbreaking and unbearable tragedy” and expressed his heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the grieving parents and families. The governor called for a complete and transparent investigation into the PIMS nursery fire, saying the cause of the blaze and those responsible should be identified. Allama Nasir Abbas calls incident ‘massacre’ Chairman Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) Allama Nasir Abbas strongly condemned the incident and demanded the resignation of the entire cabinet. “The entire cabinet should resign. These people are not capable of holding these positions; they do not belong to the people,” he said while talking to media outside PIMS hopspital. Calling the incident the killing of innocent children, Abbas said it was not merely a case of incompetence but murder. “This is murder. The only crime of these children was that they were born in Pakistan,” he said. He described the deaths as a massacre of children, saying, “When metal objects have been badly burnt, one can only imagine what happened to the delicate, flower-like bodies of these children.” Criticising the government over the removal of the health secretary, Abbas said the resignation of the secretary alone was not enough. “Merely the secretary’s resignation is not sufficient. The voice of every heart here is that the government should resign,” he said. He said they were “not one of us” and “not from among the people”, describing them as “aliens” and “occupiers and usurpers”. He added that “these crimes cannot be concealed” and warned that “God’s wrath will descend upon them.” K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also expressed grief over the deaths of 14 newborns and called for a complete and impartial investigation into the incident. He directed the provincial Health Department to conduct fire-safety inspections of all government hospitals, review emergency procedures, and identify and address safety gaps. He also ordered regular training and practical emergency drills for hospital staff. “There will be no tolerance for any negligence or dereliction in hospital safety arrangements,” Afridi said. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti expressed deep grief over the deaths of newborn babies in the PIMS tragedy and extended his condolences and solidarity to the bereaved families. He prayed for the deceased to be granted a place in Allah’s mercy and for their families to be given strength and patience to bear the loss. پمز اسلام آباد میں پیش آنے والے المناک سانحے میں معصوم نومولود بچوں کے جاں بحق ہونے پر دلی رنج و غم ہے۔ اس کربناک سانحے پر متاثرہ خاندانوں کے غم میں برابر کے شریک ہیں اور ان سے دلی ہمدردی اور یکجہتی کا اظہار کرتے ہیں۔ اللہ تعالیٰ جاں بحق بچوں کو اپنی جوارِ رحمت میں جگہ عطا فرمائے… — Sarfraz Bugti (@PakSarfrazbugti) August 26, 2026