At least 14 newborns died when a fire tore through a neonatal ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad on Wednesday morning, officials said.
The blaze broke out shortly after 7 a.m. local time on the third floor of the maternal and child health wing, trapping 16 infants in the ward. One child was rescued, while the remaining 15 perished, according to Geo TV. The death toll was later revised to 14 by authorities.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal told local media the fire originated from an explosion in an air-conditioning unit. He said the high oxygen concentration in the ward intensified the flames, complicating rescue efforts. The minister denied reports that medical staff were absent during the incident.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an immediate investigation and suspended the national health secretary pending results. The government has not detailed further measures.
Parents described chaotic conditions. Javeria, whose newborn died in the fire, said the ward lacked doctors and nurses. Mudasir, another parent, alleged the facility had no fire safety measures, no adequate exits, and that doors were locked except for one entry point used to visit children. Authorities have not commented on the claims.
The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, located in central Islamabad, serves as a major public healthcare provider in the capital region. Public hospitals in Pakistan operate under significant resource constraints, with oversight bodies frequently criticizing management and infrastructure deficiencies.
The incident follows a brief hospitalization of former Prime Minister Imran Khan at the same facility the previous week for a medical checkup.
