Pakistan hospital fire kills at least 15 babies

At least fifteen infants perished in a fire at a state-run hospital in Islamabad on Wednesday, according to local media reports. The blaze erupted at approximately 7am local time, claiming the lives of sixteen newborns who were residing in the maternity ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. One infant was miraculously rescued.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has given the order to conduct an immediate inquiry into the tragedy. Local media outlets have pointed the finger at a malfunctioning air conditioning system as the cause of the inferno. This incident ranks among Pakistan's most devastating hospital fires in recent times. The Pakistani government provides subsidized healthcare, yet its facilities are frequently plagued by inadequate resources and an overwhelming patient load.

State-run institutions have frequently come under scrutiny from watchdogs for poor management. Prime Minister Sharif's office stated firmly that those accountable should be identified, and the most stringent actions should be taken. The maternity ward was sealed off, and ambulances could be seen outside the hospital premises, reported a Reuters witness.

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently in custody, received brief treatment at the same hospital last week. Neither the hospital nor the authorities have issued any official comment on the incident. The hospital is one of the most prominent public healthcare facilities in Islamabad, a city home to approximately 1.1 million inhabitants.