14 infants killed in fire at Islamabad's PIMS Hospital

Islamabad (Web Desk): Fourteen newborn babies died after a fire erupted in a ward on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.

According to PIMS authorities, there were 15 infants in the nursery when the fire broke out, but rescue efforts managed to save only one of them.

A PIMS spokesperson said the remains of all 14 deceased babies had been handed over to their respective families.

As per the rescue officials, the incident occurred at around 6:45am when the compressor of an air conditioner inside the nursery reportedly exploded, triggering the blaze at the hospital in the federal capital.

The district administration said the fire erupted on the third floor of the Mother and Child Health (MCH) ward, leaving 14 babies completely burned.

Emergency teams were dispatched to the hospital after receiving reports of the incident. The district administration said six fire engines and four ambulances were involved in the rescue operation.

The Capital Emergency Service (CES) and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Fire Department responded to the incident and succeeded in extinguishing the flames.

The CDA said the emergency call was received at approximately 6:45am, while firefighting and rescue personnel arrived at the hospital within seven minutes.

According to the CDA, fire tenders, rescue personnel, CES ambulances and the Islamabad Capital Territory administration participated in the operation. After the fire was extinguished, teams carried out cooling work and inspected the affected area.

Eyewitnesses, however, claimed that the fire brigade and rescue personnel arrived more than 30 minutes after the fire began.

They said hospital staff became alarmed during the incident and urged people inside the facility to evacuate. “We rescued ourselves and our patients,” an elderly woman present at the scene told reporters.

Another eyewitness alleged that hospital employees failed to make use of the firefighting equipment available at the hospital to bring the flames under control.

Earlier, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal had said that the fire followed an explosion involving an air-conditioning unit in the children’s intensive care ward. “The presence of oxygen in the ward caused the fire to intensify,” Kamal said.

“As a result, 14 innocent children lost their lives,” he said. The minister added that administrative authorities and relevant enforcement agencies had arrived at the hospital to investigate the incident, determine its cause and establish the facts.

Kamal said the health secretary and officials of the Ministry of Health were also present at PIMS.

“The loss of the lives of innocent newborn babies is an extremely heartbreaking tragedy,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad district administration formed a fact-finding committee to establish what exactly caused the fire and identify the circumstances that allowed it to spread.

The committee will be led by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), ICT, and will comprise representatives from the Capital Development Authority, Islamabad Police, IESCO, PIMS and Capital Emergency Services.

The panel has also been assigned the responsibility of determining whether sufficient and operational fire-safety arrangements were available at the hospital. It will further review how quickly rescue and firefighting teams responded and assess the effectiveness of their operation.

The committee has been instructed to present its findings within 24 hours.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have expressed deep grief and sorrow over the tragic fire incident at PIMS Hospital in Islamabad.

In their separate statements, they said tragic deaths of the newborn babies are extremely heartbreaking and an irreparable loss.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed profound sorrow over the deaths and conveyed his condolences to the families who lost their newborn children.

He described the deaths as “an extremely heartbreaking and irreparable loss” and ordered that those found responsible be identified and proceeded against under the law.

President Zardari also stressed the need for hospitals to have proper fire-prevention and emergency systems in place, particularly for the protection of newborns and other vulnerable patients.

صدرِ مملکت آصف علی زرداری کا پمز اسپتال اسلام آباد آتشزدگی کے افسوسناک واقعے پر گہرے دکھ اور افسوس کا اظہار۔

صدرِ مملکت کا آتشزدگی کے نتیجے میں نومولود بچوں کے جاں بحق ہونے پر لواحقین سے دلی تعزیت اور ہمدردی کا اظہار۔

نومولود بچوں کی المناک اموات انتہائی دلخراش اور ناقابلِ…

— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) August 26, 2026

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the tragic incident and ordered an immediate inquiry into the matter.

“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.

PM Shehbaz also extended his heartfelt sympathies to the families mourning the loss of their newborn children.

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

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed profound sorrow over the loss of the newborns, saying, “Deeply saddened and heartbroken by the tragic fire at the nursery of PIMS Hospital, in which 14 newborns lost their lives."

Dar said that PM Shehbaz had directed authorities to launch an immediate and comprehensive inquiry into the incident to determine its cause.

He added that those found responsible would be dealt with through “the strictest action”.

“The safety of our children must remain paramount,” DPM Dar added.

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

Senate Chairman Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and extended his condolences to the families who lost their newborn children.
Gilani stressed that hospitals must have robust fire protection arrangements, proper safety protocols and adequate systems to respond to emergencies.

“Any negligence in safety measures is unacceptable,” he said, urging the concerned authorities to conduct a detailed investigation and implement practical measures to avert similar tragedies in the future.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also expressed deep anguish over the deaths of the infants.

In his statement, the NA Speaker said that he was “heartbroken” by the tragedy and expressed solidarity with the grieving parents, saying he shared their pain and sorrow.

اسپیکر قومی اسمبلی سردار ایاز صادق کا پمز ہسپتال کے ایم سی ایچ بلاک کی نرسری میں پیش آنے والے آتشزدگی کے واقعے میں 14 نومولود بچوں کے جانی نقصان پر گہرے دکھ اور افسوس کا اظہار

اسپیکر سردار ایاز صادق کا معصوم بچوں کے لواحقین سے دلی ہمدردی اور تعزیت کا اظہار

آتشزدگی کے اندوہ ناک…

— National Assembly ???????? (@NAofPakistan) August 26, 2026

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed grief over the deaths caused by the fire at PIMS.
“Our deepest sympathies are with the grieving families,” he said, adding, “We stand with the families of the deceased children in this difficult time.”

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

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz , expressing the sorrow over the incident, described the deaths of the innocent babies as "extremely painful and distressing".

She ordered authorities to make certain that firefighting equipment was available and fully operational at hospitals across the province.

The British High Commission also termed the incident "heartbreaking" and expressed sympathy with the parents of the children during their time of grief.

“Our deepest condolences and thoughts are with the parents and families at this unimaginably difficult time,” it said.

Heartbreaking news that at least 14 infants sadly passed away following a terrible fire at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. Our deepest condolences and thoughts are with the parents and families at this unimaginably difficult time.

— UK in Pakistan ???????????????? (@ukinpakistan) August 26, 2026

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif also conveyed his grief over the deaths, saying he was “deeply grieved” upon learning about the tragedy. 
He called for firm action against those responsible and stressed that safeguards must be strengthened to ensure such an incident is not repeated.

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

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari described the deaths as an “unbearable tragedy” for the country. “These innocent children were not merely numbers; they were the hopes, dreams and prayers of grieving families,” Bilawal said.

He demanded a transparent investigation into the incident to determine how such a tragedy took place at Islamabad’s largest government-run hospital. 

The PPP chairman added that anyone found negligent or responsible for failing to protect vulnerable patients should be held accountable.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) demanded that the health minister step down following the incident.

The party described the tragedy as evidence of a serious breakdown in the hospital’s safety and management arrangements.

The PTI maintained that merely announcing an inquiry and releasing statements after the deaths would not be enough, calling for meaningful accountability and action over the incident.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah expressed sadness over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the bereaved families.

He also prayed for the quick recovery of those who sustained injuries in the incident.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also expressed grief over the deaths of the newborn babies in the fire that broke out in the PIMS Hospital nursery in Islamabad.

KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the tragic deaths of newborn children at PIMS.

In a statement, the KP CM described the loss of the infants as extremely painful and irreversible.

He offered his sincere sympathies to the families affected by the tragedy and said he stood with them in their grief.

CM Afridi demanded a fair and detailed inquiry to determine what led to the deaths.

He said any person found responsible for negligence, carelessness or a failure to perform their duties should be identified and face appropriate accountability.

The KP CM said no words could ease the suffering of parents who had lost their children and prayed that Allah Almighty grant the grieving families the strength and patience needed to cope with their loss.

Meanwhile, in wake of the PIMS incident, CM Afridi directed the provincial health authorities to examine safety measures at hospitals throughout Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He ordered officials to review the standard operating procedures (SOPs) currently in place as well as emergency response arrangements, so that healthcare facilities are better equipped to manage unforeseen incidents.

The chief minister directed the authorities to locate gaps and weaknesses in hospital safety systems and ensure that necessary improvements are made without delay.

CM Afridi also called for hospital employees to receive regular training and participate in hands-on emergency exercises to improve their ability to respond during critical situations.

He the health department to carry out fire safety checks at every public-sector hospital in the province and prepare a detailed report for submission to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

The KP CM stressed that negligence or any form of laxity in maintaining safety standards at hospitals would not be accepted.