Chicago – August 26, 2026
A devastating fire in a newborn nursery at a major government hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, has killed 14 infants, prompting an immediate high-level inquiry and the suspension of the federal health secretary.
Incident details
The blaze erupted shortly before 7 a.m. local time on Wednesday on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), one of Islamabad’s largest public hospitals.
Hospital and rescue officials said the fire began after the compressor of an air-conditioning unit exploded inside the nursery, with some reports citing an electrical short circuit as the trigger. At least 15 newborns were in the ward at the time; only one baby was rescued, while 14 suffered severe burns and later died, according to hospital spokespersons.
Official response
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an urgent, high-level investigation and suspended the federal health secretary over the incident. The Islamabad district magistrate also appointed a multi-agency fact-finding committee to determine the fire’s cause, assess fire-safety measures, and evaluate the emergency response, with a report due within 24 hours.
A separate prime ministerial inquiry committee, headed by retired federal secretary Shahid Khan, was tasked with submitting comprehensive findings and recommendations within five days.
