Last infant dies in Pakistan after PIMS fire — Dawn
In Islamabad, Pakistan, the last of 15 infants who were in the neonatal ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) during a fire on August 26 has died. Dawn reports.
Fourteen infants died in the fire, while one child was rescued by nurse Razia Noreen. PIMS Executive Director Muhammad Salman confirmed the death of the last infant and ordered that an ambulance be provided at the hospital’s expense to transport the child’s body and family to their native village in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The child’s condition was critical
According to hospital sources, the infant was born prematurely, was in critical condition, and had experienced health problems since birth. These sources considered the child’s chances of survival extremely low.
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A representative of Pakistan’s Ministry of Health could not confirm whether the family would receive compensation of 5 million Pakistani rupees, announced by the government after the fire. Muhammad Salman also said he could not say for certain whether the funds would be paid.
Commission findings
The fire raised concerns about fire safety measures. Authorities ordered criminal action against eight officials.
An inquiry commission was established on the day of the fire on the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. It was headed by former Interior Secretary Shahid Khan. In its 43-page report, the commission said it had identified a systemic and institutional failure, noting that individual responsibility depends on the strength of the evidence. The report also states that PIMS and its senior management bear primary institutional responsibility for failing to turn known risks, prior warnings, and identified duties into an effective safety system.
