ISLAMABAD: The inquiry committee constituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formally begun investigating the fire at the Mother and Child Hospital (MCH) nursery at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) that resulted in the deaths of 14 newborn babies.
Members of the high-level committee visited the Fire Brigade Headquarters in Islamabad on Thursday and recorded statements from Capital Emergency Services officials and personnel involved in the rescue operation, according to sources.
The investigators examined the sequence of events from the outbreak of the fire until the arrival of emergency teams at the hospital. They also reviewed the response time and performance of the fire brigade and sought details about the difficulties encountered during the rescue operation.
The committee is expected to examine PIMS’ fire safety arrangements, emergency response mechanisms and possible administrative or technical lapses that may have contributed to the tragedy.
Headed by retired federal secretary Shahid Khan, the committee will submit an interim report to the prime minister within 48 hours, while a comprehensive report containing its findings and recommendations is expected within five days.
The panel has been tasked with determining the cause of the fire, establishing a detailed timeline, assessing the response of hospital staff and emergency agencies, identifying negligence or lapses and recommending action against those found responsible. It will also propose measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, PIMS has reconstituted its own four-member inquiry committee to investigate the incident. Dr Atif Inam Shami has been appointed chairman, while Deputy Executive Director PIMS Dr Aneza Jaleel, Dr Altaf Hussain and Dr Sajjad Rafiq Abbasi are its other members.
The committee was reconstituted after Professor Qasim Mahmood Butt, who was part of the earlier panel, went on leave. It has also been directed to submit its findings within 48 hours and determine the cause of the fire, assess fire safety measures and examine the effectiveness and response time of the rescue operation.
Sources said Dr Aneza Jaleel has also recorded her statement before the inquiry committee formed by the prime minister.
The investigations come amid conflicting accounts regarding the cause of the blaze and growing scrutiny of the hospital’s electrical and oxygen infrastructure, maintenance and emergency preparedness.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has separately launched its own probe. During a visit to PIMS, committee members questioned differing accounts about how the fire started.
Committee Chairman Mahesh Kumar Malani said the panel would independently examine whether the incident resulted from negligence or a technical fault. He said the exact source of the fire had not yet been established.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal had earlier attributed the incident to a spark in an air conditioner. However, Malani said doctors, nurses and hospital officials had provided different accounts, with possibilities including faulty wiring and an oxygen-related problem.
The parliamentary committee also questioned the condition of the nursery, which was reportedly established in a building dating back to 1990. Malani questioned why newborns were being treated there when a newer block was available at PIMS.
Members also raised concerns about old equipment, exposed wiring and maintenance standards. The committee sought details of the budget allocated for the Mother and Child Health Care Centre, its utilisation and records of inspections of the hospital’s oxygen and electrical systems.
Fire safety arrangements have also come under scrutiny. The committee sought information about fire drills, the most recent fire safety audit and the functionality of fire alarms.
Members also raised questions about the presence of hospital staff when the fire broke out and whether the newborns were adequately attended to during the emergency. The committee said technical experts would be consulted before reaching any definitive conclusion about the cause of the blaze.
Meanwhile, Secretary of the Ministry of National Health Services Captain (retd) Muhammad Mahmood has established a temporary tent office at PIMS to address administrative issues and facilitate patients and the public.
Mahmood said resolving PIMS’ administrative problems was his priority and that he would personally hear complaints from the hospital administration, patients and citizens. He also expressed solidarity with the families of the newborns who died in the fire.
He said measures would be taken to prevent similar tragedies and pledged efforts to upgrade PIMS infrastructure in line with international standards and improve governance through administrative reforms.
With three separate investigations underway, scrutiny is now extending beyond the immediate cause of the fire to the condition of the nursery, electrical and oxygen systems, fire safety arrangements, staff presence, emergency response and the preventive measures in place before the tragedy.
