Pakistan suspends eight officials after deadly infant ward fire

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the suspension of eight officials and called for criminal proceedings following a devastating fire at a maternity ward in the capital. The fire claimed the lives of 14 infants within approximately two minutes after 6:30am on Wednesday. The preliminary report, conducted by a four-person committee, revealed that the blaze engulfed the unit just moments after the incident.

Only one out of the 15 infants in the hospital's care was saved by a single nurse. Among those suspended were the hospital's executive director, the head of the neonatal department, and the director-general of Islamabad's emergency services. Sharif emphasized that those responsible for criminal negligence should face justice and not be granted any leniency.

He also approved taking action against the company responsible for the hospital's security, though the specific company was not named. Emergency services arrived within six minutes of the fire, but the initial response was reportedly slow, with guards allegedly preventing people from exiting the building. The hospital lacked detailed operating procedures and fire and emergency training, according to the preliminary report.

Two nurses, a security guard, and another officer were present in the ward when the fire started, but there were no supervising staff. Earlier, Health Minister Mustafa Kamal suggested that a spark from an air conditioner may have caused the fire, though the ignition source remains undetermined as the investigation continues. The country's Health Secretary, Aslam Ghori, was dismissed following the incident.

Fires in large buildings are not uncommon in Pakistan, often due to inadequate safety laws and building codes, along with weak enforcement. In January, over 65 people lost their lives in a shopping center fire in Karachi, while at least 11 were killed in another shopping mall fire in the same city in 2023. In 2012, more than 250 laborers perished in a garment factory fire in Karachi.