Islamabad – UNS: The Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, under the chairmanship of Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti, visited the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and held a meeting to examine the tragic deaths of 14 infants in the recent fire incident at the PIMS Nursery.
The committee reviewed the adequacy of medical, paediatric and emergency care, fire safety arrangements, administrative and systemic deficiencies, and measures required to ensure accountability, patient safety and prevention of such incidents in the future.
The meeting was attended by Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, Senator Rubina Khalid, Senator Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto and Senator Nasir Mehmood, while Senator Shahzaib Durrani participated through Zoom link. Whereas, Ms. Sabeen Ghauri, MNA also attended the meeting as special invitee.
The committee visited the PIMS Nursery where the tragic fire occurred and raised serious concerns over the absence of fire alarms and reported closure of emergency exits. Members also expressed displeasure over construction materials placed outside the labour room, observing that such obstructions could pose serious risks to patients and staff. The chairman directed the PIMS administration to immediately remove all materials creating hurdles in hospital wards and access points.
The committee offered Fateha for the departed infants and expressed its deepest sympathies and condolences to the bereaved parents and families, terming the incident a national tragedy.
During a detailed briefing, the PIMS administration stated that the situation was managed within a few minutes. However, committee members questioned the availability of duty staff, including doctors, at the time of the incident and observed that the presence of adequate staff could potentially have helped in evacuating and saving the infants.
The Federal Minister for Health informed the committee that, according to the preliminary inquiry report, the fire spread within approximately 120 seconds, resulting in the tragic loss of lives. He also apprised the committee of an earlier fire incident at the PIMS Nursing Hostel in July 2026 that he was told after this incident emerged & was kept hidden from him.
The committee unanimously resolved to scrutinize the inquiry committee’s report and called for a comprehensive, impartial and technically sound investigation into the incident. Members observed that established fire safety protocols had not been adequately followed, while no regular fire drills had been conducted and relevant authorities had apparently failed to carry out necessary inspection visits.
The committee emphasized the need to clearly separate administrative and clinical responsibilities in public hospitals. Members expressed concern over officials holding multiple additional charges and doctors being assigned administrative responsibilities, stressing that hospital administration should be managed by qualified professionals with relevant expertise.
The committee also questioned the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) regarding the reported absence of inspection visits to PIMS for the last two years.
The chairman stressed the need for comprehensive reforms in the national healthcare system and directed the Federal Minister for Health to develop a generalized healthcare policy for the entire country, with particular emphasis on patient safety, emergency preparedness, fire safety and institutional accountability.
The committee also recommended that the inquiry committee constituted on the fire incident to brief the standing committee its findings in the next meeting.
The committee unanimously resolved that those found responsible for negligence or violations would be held accountable and that no one responsible for the tragedy would be allowed to go unpunished.
Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s healthcare system, ensuring patient safety and preventing recurrence of such tragedies. He also urged the media and the general public to submit constructive suggestions for healthcare reforms and improved safety standards.
While concluding, the Chairman Committee showed complete dissatisfaction on the absence of Chairman CDA, Deputy Commissioner & Civil Defence.
