PIMS Fire Tragedy: PM Shehbaz Sharif Chairs High-Level Meeting, Preliminary Inquiry Report Presented

Eight Officials Suspended Immediately, Criminal Proceedings Ordered — Nursing Ward Lacked Fire Alarms and Sprinkler System
Lahore: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting on the fire incident at PIMS (Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences), during which the investigation committee presented its preliminary report.
The Prime Minister ordered the immediate suspension of eight officials identified by the committee and directed that action be taken against them under both departmental rules and criminal law. Those suspended include PIMS Executive Director Prof. Dr. Imran Sikandar, Joint Executive Directors Dr. Mutahir Shah and Dr. Awais Ali Shah, Head of the Neonatal Department Prof. Dr. Sadia Riaz, Senior Registrar Dr. Naghma, Dr. Naushila Amjad, Assistant Director Security Muhammad Usman, and Director General of CDA Emergency Services Dr. Abdul Rehman.
The Prime Minister stated firmly that no leniency would be shown and that those responsible would be brought to justice. He ordered a nurse and a female guard present in the ward to be made OSD (Officer on Special Duty) pending further investigation, while also approving the “Sitara-e-Khidmat” award for a nurse who risked her own life to save a child. Dr. Muhammad Salman, CEO of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was directed to be appointed Acting Executive Director of PIMS, with instructions for immediate fresh appointments to replace the removed officials.
According to the briefing presented at the meeting, PIMS had no comprehensive SOPs or training in place for fire or emergency situations; out of the hospital’s 13 SOPs, fire was mentioned in only two sub-sections. Supervisory staff were not on duty at the time of the incident, while only two nurses, one female guard, and a house officer were present in the ward. The fire spread through the entire ward in just two minutes. Emergency services were called six minutes after the fire broke out, and the first response arrived a further 15 minutes later.
The briefing also revealed that just a month earlier, in July, a fire had broken out at the PIMS nursing hostel, after which no serious safety measures had been implemented. The ward had no fire alarm or sprinkler system installed, and the neonatal ward was found to be in violation of all relevant World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. No dedicated officer was assigned to handle emergency situations — the responsibility had been given to the assistant director as an additional duty.
The Prime Minister was also briefed on the hospital’s dilapidated condition and mismanagement. He thanked committee head Shahid Khan and all members, and directed them to complete the investigation and submit a more detailed report. He also ordered the preliminary report be published immediately on the Ministry of National Health Services website.
The meeting was attended by federal ministers Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, Syed Mustafa Kamal, committee head Shahid Khan, members Barrister Nabeel Awan and Maj. Gen. (R) Khursheed Anwar, along with other senior officials.