Sole infant who survived Pims fire dies

The last surviving infant from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) fire has passed away, according to reports on Friday. She was among the 15 infants present in the nursery when the fire broke out on August 26, resulting in the tragic loss of 14 lives, with only one survivor, a nurse named Razia Noreen. Pims' Executive Director, Dr Muhammad Salman, confirmed the unfortunate news to Dawn, and subsequently issued directives to facilitate the transportation of the infant's body and her family back to their native village in Azad Jammu and Kashmir at the hospital's expense.

Attempts to reach the infant's father for a statement were unsuccessful. Hospital sources further disclosed that the infant had been in critical condition right from the onset, with limited chances of survival due to her premature birth and ongoing health complications. The decision regarding the compensation of Rs5 million, announced by the government post-fire, remains uncertain as it has not been finalized yet.

Dr Salman also hinted at the possibility of the family not receiving the compensation, leaving the future of the infant's family in a state of ambiguity. The fire incident at Pims triggered discussions on fire safety protocols and prompted demands for accountability, leading to the appointment of a committee headed by former interior secretary Shahid Khan.

The committee submitted a 43-page report, concluding that "systemic and institutional failure is established" while recognizing varying degrees of individual responsibility based on the evidence available. The committee held Pims and its senior management primarily accountable for the lack of adequate safety systems, emphasizing that administrative, disciplinary, contractual, and criminal responsibility should only be imposed if there's a proved duty, omission, and causal consequence.