PM Approves Removal of PIMS ED Rana Imran and Nine Others
Inquiry committee headed by former interior secretary Shahid Khan has identified the causes of the PIMS tragedy, examined emergency-response shortcomings and recommended action against staff found responsible or absent, while proposing reforms to prevent similar incidents.
ISLAMABAD: The preliminary inquiry report into the PIMS tragedy has been submitted to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with the investigation committee identifying the causes of the incident, determining responsibility and recommending immediate action against those found responsible, according to sources. Multiple Pakistani news outlets independently reported the submission of the findings on Saturday.
The inquiry committee was headed by former interior secretary Shahid Khan. The federal government had constituted the high-level panel on the prime minister’s directions following the August 26 incident at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad. Its official terms of reference included determining the immediate cause, reviewing the emergency response and rescue operation, assessing fire-safety infrastructure and identifying any responsibility or negligence.
Inquiry Committee Identifies Shortcomings
According to sources, the preliminary report was submitted late at night to the office of Prime Minister’s Adviser Tauqir Hussain Shah, who subsequently forwarded it to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and briefed him on its findings and recommendations. The report reportedly carries the signatures of all members of the inquiry committee.
Sources said the committee has identified factors behind the tragedy and determined responsibility for shortcomings uncovered during the investigation. The report also examines difficulties encountered by rescue teams during the emergency operation and recommends action against relevant PIMS personnel who were absent at the time.
The inquiry incorporated interviews with PIMS administrators and doctors as well as statements from fire brigade and rescue personnel. It also examined treatment facilities, emergency arrangements and other infrastructure at the federal capital’s major public-sector hospital.
Serious Deficiencies Found at PIMS
According to reports citing the inquiry findings, serious deficiencies were identified in hospital facilities and arrangements, with aspects of the institution described as falling short of international standards. The committee has also proposed measures intended to prevent a recurrence and strengthen PIMS’s administrative and emergency-response systems.
The authority to decide whether the preliminary findings will be made public rests with the prime minister, according to sources. The committee has recommended prompt action against those found responsible, while further administrative or disciplinary measures are expected after consideration of the findings.
The tragedy occurred on August 26 when a blaze broke out in the neonatal section of PIMS. Fourteen newborns lost their lives, prompting nationwide concern over hospital safety and emergency preparedness.
