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The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement extending sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims as well as to the government and people of Pakistan. In the announcement the kingdom expressed solidarity with the victims’ families while offering support to Pakistani authorities and wishing security and safety for the country and its citizens. The statement described the incident at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences as tragic and conveyed the kingdom’s condemnation of the fatal blaze.
A fire broke out shortly before 7 a.m. on Wednesday in the maternity ward nursery at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences one of the largest state-run hospitals in Islamabad according to multiple Pakistani officials. Hospital spokespeople told BBC News that an air conditioning unit exploded igniting oxygen equipment and cylinders that caused the flames to spread rapidly through the third-floor unit. Dawn newspaper reported that 15 newborns were present in the ward at the time with 14 succumbing to the fire while one infant was rescued by medical staff.
Rescue teams deployed six fire engines and four ambulances yet eyewitnesses described delays and chaotic scenes with thick smoke and locked doors hindering evacuation as detailed in BBC coverage. Health Minister Mustafa Kamal informed local media that many of the infants some only hours old had been in incubators or connected to oxygen contributing to the intensity of the blaze. Pakistani authorities confirmed that seven additional babies two men and 10 mothers were rescued from other parts of the facility according to the minister of state for interior.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sadness over the incident and ordered an immediate investigation with a fact-finding committee required to report within 24 hours a move reported across outlets including CNN and Al Jazeera. The government later suspended a top health official amid mounting calls for accountability as covered by BBC News. Islamabad Chief Commissioner Sohail Ashraf stated that emergency responders reached the scene promptly after the call and that an inquiry headed by the additional deputy commissioner had been formed.
Hospital fires remain a recurring problem in Pakistan due to inadequate safety regulations and enforcement according to a timeline compiled by Dawn newspaper that lists multiple deadly incidents since 2010. Previous blazes have damaged operating theaters and injured patients in facilities across Lahore and other cities highlighting persistent vulnerabilities in the health care infrastructure. The Wednesday tragedy at PIMS has prompted renewed demands from politicians and journalists for stricter oversight and accountability measures.
The fire ranks among the deadliest at a Pakistani health care facility in years affecting families across the capital region where the hospital serves a large population. Officials continue to coordinate with bereaved families for the release of remains while investigators examine the precise sequence of events including ongoing repair work at the site. Pakistani authorities have emphasized that the full findings of the inquiry will determine any further actions against those responsible.
