ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): A high-level inquiry committee has been formed on the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to probe the fire incident at the gynaecology ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), which claimed the lives of 14 newborns early Wednesday.
According to the hospital administration, at the time of the fire, 15 newborns were in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the hospital, located in Islamabad, of whom only one was rescued.
The fire erupted on the third floor of the Mother and Child Health Care Center. Rescue teams were dispatched immediately after receiving information about the incident, the district administration said.
Following the incident, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired an urgent meeting, suspending the Federal Secretary of Health, Aslam Ghauri, and announcing the formation of a high-level probe committee.
The PM expressed his deep indignation over the fire incident and ordered the strictest possible action. Sharif expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
Committee notified
According to the notification issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, former federal interior secretary Shahid Khan has been appointed chairman of the inquiry committee.
Other members include Major General (R) Dr. Khurshid Utra, Dr. Barrister Nabeel Ahmed Awan, and the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad.
The notification also outlined the committee’s terms of reference, which say that it will determine the immediate cause of the fire and establish a timeline of events.
“The panel will review the emergency response and relief operations carried out by hospital staff and relevant institutions, including the Fire Brigade and Rescue 1122,” it added.
The notification further noted that the inquiry will focus on “assessing compliance with emergency SOPs for the evacuation of newborns, particularly high-risk infants, during the incident.”
The committee will additionally conduct a thorough review of fire safety infrastructure at PIMS and the extent of adherence to existing safety regulations.
The panel has been empowered to fix responsibility and identify negligence on the part of any individuals involved in the incident and will present recommendations for necessary administrative reforms at PIMS aimed at preventing similar occurrences in the future.
The inquiry committee will submit an interim report to the Prime Minister within 48 hours, containing recommendations of an urgent nature, followed by a comprehensive report within five days covering the complete investigation and actionable recommendations.
