The PIMS nursery fire inquiry report has raised serious concerns about treatment and facilities at the Islamabad hospital.
According to sources, the inquiry committee found that hospital facilities fell below global standards during its investigation.
The committee submitted its initial report to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after examining the deadly nursery fire.
The report also identified the causes of the fire and determined those responsible for the tragedy, sources said.
14 Infants Died in PIMS Nursery Fire
The findings came three days after a devastating fire swept through the PIMS nursery.
The fire broke out around 6:45am in the NICU on the third floor of the Mother and Child Health ward.
At the time, the nursery housed 15 newborns, according to the inquiry report details.
Rescuers managed to save only one infant, while 14 newborns died in the incident.
The tragedy prompted the government to establish a high-level inquiry committee under the prime minister’s directive.
Inquiry Committee Submits Report to Prime Minister
Former interior secretary Shahid Khan headed the inquiry committee formed to investigate the incident and identify those responsible.
The committee completed its report and submitted it late Friday night to the office of PM’s Adviser Tauqir Hussain Shah.
Shah subsequently forwarded the report to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and briefed him on its key findings.
The sources said the report also contains recommendations concerning those found responsible for the fire.
However, the decision to make the inquiry report public rests with the prime minister.
Report Flags Serious Hospital Deficiencies
One of the report’s key findings concerns the condition of treatment and facilities available at PIMS.
According to sources, the committee observed that “nothing was according to international standards” at the hospital.
The report specifically highlighted inadequate treatment and deficiencies in available facilities at the medical institution.
These observations have added another dimension to the investigation following the deaths of 14 newborns.
The committee also examined whether existing arrangements were sufficient to handle emergencies inside the hospital.
Action Recommended Against Those Responsible
The inquiry committee recommended immediate action against individuals it held responsible for the incident.
It also recommended disciplinary proceedings against relevant PIMS staff members who were absent when the fire broke out.
The recommendations followed the committee’s examination of the circumstances surrounding the fire and the hospital’s response.
Meanwhile, the report includes accounts from officials and personnel who witnessed or responded to the emergency.
Rescuers Highlight Difficulties During Emergency
The committee documented difficulties faced by fire brigade and rescue teams while responding to the emergency.
Statements from fire brigade and rescue personnel were included as part of the inquiry process.
The committee also interviewed PIMS administration officials and doctors to understand the events from different perspectives.
These accounts formed part of the evidence considered while preparing the initial inquiry report.
The findings therefore cover both the circumstances of the fire and the emergency response that followed.
Recommendations Aim to Prevent Future Tragedies
Beyond identifying responsibility, the committee proposed measures to prevent similar incidents at PIMS in the future.
The recommendations also seek to strengthen emergency preparedness and improve response mechanisms within the hospital.
Such measures are intended to address the shortcomings identified during the investigation and improve safety arrangements.
The report carries the signatures of all members of the inquiry committee, according to sources.
The committee included Shahid Khan as chairman, Major General (retd) Dr Khurshid Utra, Dr Barrister Nabeel Ahmed Awan and Islamabad’s deputy commissioner.
The final decision on the report’s public release now rests with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
