No One Responsible for PIMS Lapses Will Be Spared: Mustafa Kamal
Federal health minister says available footage shows the incident beginning around 6:38am, oxygen infrastructure accelerated its spread, and anyone found responsible for negligence will face action.
ISLAMABAD: Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal on Wednesday offered himself for accountability over the PIMS nursery tragedy, saying no individual found responsible for negligence or failure to perform their duty would be spared.
Speaking to the media at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Kamal described the incident as one of the most heartbreaking episodes in the country’s history and expressed condolences to the families of the 14 newborns who lost their lives.
The death toll of 14 newborns has been independently reported by multiple national and international news organisations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an investigation into the incident, while the federal health secretary was suspended following an emergency meeting.
Kamal said he had presented himself before the prime minister for accountability and would be the first to answer questions concerning the performance of the health ministry.
“If anyone had a responsibility and failed to fulfil it, action will be taken,” Kamal said, adding that all available information would be presented to the prime minister.
Minister Gives Preliminary Timeline of Fire
Giving a preliminary timeline based on footage available to the authorities, the minister said a spark was seen from an air-conditioning unit at approximately 6:38am, followed by flames. He said footage from around 6:39am showed people leaving the area, including four individuals who appeared to be running.
Kamal said the presence of oxygen infrastructure contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze. Earlier official accounts also said an air-conditioning unit was suspected to have triggered the incident and that oxygen in the ward intensified the fire.
The precise cause, sequence of events and responsibility, however, remain subject to formal investigation. Other preliminary accounts have referred to a short circuit, highlighting the need to await the inquiry’s findings before treating any particular explanation as conclusive.
The minister said multiple institutions were investigating the incident and that authorities possessed footage that would be examined as part of the inquiry.
Security Measures at Nursery Questioned
Responding to questions about access to the nursery, Kamal said a guard had been stationed at the entrance following previous incidents involving missing infants, which had resulted in restrictions on movement into and out of the area.
PIMS Facing Heavy Patient Load
He also highlighted pressure on PIMS, saying the hospital, originally designed for a far smaller patient load, was now receiving around 8,000 patients. Kamal said that during his roughly 14 months in office, additional hospitals and hundreds of beds had been added to the federal healthcare system.
The tragedy has intensified scrutiny of emergency preparedness and safety arrangements at one of Islamabad’s largest public hospitals. Reports citing preliminary assessments have raised questions over fire-safety arrangements and emergency access, while the government-ordered investigation is expected to determine the cause and establish responsibility.
