Pakistan mourns 14 newborns who died in hospital fire

A tragic fire at a maternity ward in Islamabad's Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has left Pakistan in shock, claiming the lives of 14 newborn babies. Only one infant managed to escape the flames, according to rescue services. The maternity ward, part of the gynaecology department at PIMS, a state-run hospital, is currently under investigation to determine the cause of the fire, with initial findings pointing towards a malfunctioning air-conditioning unit.

Deputy Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry stated that the cause remains unconfirmed. Heavy smoke and firefighters were seen at the scene, with the blaze under control. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has set up a commission to investigate why the ward was locked at the time of the incident and the absence of medical personnel. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed grief and condolences to the bereaved families.

Opposition politicians and members of the governing parties have expressed their dismay over the disaster. Firefighters reported issues during the rescue operation, such as a blocked main entrance requiring them to break open window grilles. Public hospitals in Pakistan are often criticized for their poor standards, prompting many who can afford it to seek care in private clinics.

The PIMS, however, is considered a prestige project for the government. Bahadur Khan, a new father, was among those mourning, recounting how he visited his two newborn daughters on the ward just before the fire broke out. He expressed his frustration, stating that if better management had been in place, his daughters could have been saved.