The Islamabad hospital fire that broke out early Wednesday at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences has killed at least 14 newborns, making it one of the deadliest hospital fires in the country in recent decades. The blaze tore through the nursery on the third floor of the hospital’s Mother and Child Centre at around 7 a.m., trapping infants inside a ward meant to be among the most closely monitored sections of the facility.
According to hospital officials, 15 newborns were present in the nursery when the fire started, and only one was rescued. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed the toll of 14 deaths and ordered an immediate investigation, while some early reports from local broadcasters had put the number as high as 15. PIMS, the largest public hospital in Pakistan’s capital, is a government-run facility that serves as a primary referral centre for patients across the region.
Cause of the PIMS Hospital Fire Still Under Investigation
The precise cause of the fire has not been officially confirmed. Rescue officials initially suggested that an air-conditioner compressor may have exploded inside the nursery, while a PIMS spokesperson said the blaze appeared to have originated from a short circuit in the unit’s electrical wiring. A government-appointed committee, comprising representatives from the Capital Emergency Services, local police, the Capital Development Authority’s electrical and mechanical wing, and the Islamabad Electric Supply Company, has been tasked with determining the exact cause and assessing whether adequate fire-safety measures were in place at the time.
The committee has also been asked to evaluate the response time and effectiveness of the rescue and firefighting operation, with a report expected within 24 hours of the incident. Six fire brigade vehicles and four ambulances were deployed to the scene, according to the Islamabad administration, as emergency workers carried out cooling operations and evacuated other patients from the building.
Witness Accounts Raise Questions Over Hospital Safety in Pakistan
Accounts from witnesses at the scene have raised further questions about hospital safety in Pakistan, particularly at government-run facilities. Several people who were present, their hands and faces blackened by smoke, said they waited for hours before emergency services arrived and were forced to break through windows to reach the neonatal intensive care unit. Others alleged that security guards prevented people inside the building from leaving as the fire spread, though these claims have not been independently verified.
Health care in Pakistan is delivered through a mix of private and public providers, with government-run hospitals frequently criticized for ageing infrastructure, chronic underfunding and limited emergency preparedness. Islamabad’s public facilities are generally considered to be better resourced than those in many other parts of the country, which has heightened concern over how such a fire could occur at one of the capital’s flagship hospitals.
Political Reaction to the Islamabad Hospital Fire
The tragedy has drawn strong reactions from across Pakistan’s political spectrum. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said an immediate and thorough investigation would be carried out on the prime minister’s orders to determine the cause of the incident and ensure accountability. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq expressed grief over the deaths, while Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called the loss of life an unbearable tragedy for the nation and demanded an impartial inquiry.
Some lawmakers have called for stronger action beyond a routine inquiry. A member of the National Assembly described the incident as shameful and said those responsible must be held accountable, rather than allowing the matter to be absorbed into another inconclusive investigation.
A Recurring Pattern of Hospital Fires
Wednesday’s fire is not the first instance of a fault in hospital air-conditioning systems proving fatal for infants in Pakistan. In June 2024, a similar fire swept through the paediatric ward of Sahiwal Teaching Hospital in Punjab province, killing 11 babies. The recurrence of such incidents has intensified scrutiny of electrical and fire-safety standards in wards housing newborns and other patients who depend on staff assistance during emergencies.
As investigators work to establish the exact circumstances of the Islamabad hospital fire, grieving families have gathered outside PIMS, with several coffins of infant victims carried from the hospital during the day. The government has pledged that findings from the investigation will be made public once the inquiry is complete.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, August 27th, 2026
Follow SouthAsianDesk on X, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business and current affairs from across South Asia.
