Pims fire: PM Shehbaz reiterates no leniency for officials found negligent in their duties

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting on Tuesday regarding the health situation as well as the fire that broke out in the gynaecology ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), stating that there would be no leniency extended to any official found to be negligent in their duties.

“Leniency will not be extended to those who are guilty of criminal negligence,” said the prime minister.

Fourteen infants died in the fire on the previous Wednesday, with members of parliament from both chambers of parliament calling for those involved to be held accountable. The health minister, Mustafa Kamal, stated that those involved will “not be spared.”

At the meeting, the prime minister also instructed the health minister and health secretary to be present physically at Pims alternately.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was briefed on various health-sector matters, including the ongoing investigation into the deadly fire at Pims.

The meeting was attended by Health Minister Kamal, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Health Secretary Captain (retd) Muhammad Mahmood, and Pims Executive Director Dr Muhammad Salman. The prime minister was informed that measures were being taken to implement the decisions he had issued following the interim inquiry report.

The prime minister directed the authorities to improve medical and treatment facilities at Pims and ensure that all necessary safety protocols were fully enforced.

He also ordered that health-sector reforms be accelerated. Following the submission of the inquiry committee’s interim report last Saturday, PM Shehbaz had ordered the suspension and initiation of criminal proceedings against eight officials allegedly found responsible for negligence or administrative failures.

However, the inquiry has faced criticism from parliamentary committees in both the National Assembly and Senate. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Health expressed dissatisfaction with the inquiry report, particularly over missing CCTV footage and conflicting accounts regarding the number of infants in the nursery.

Health Minister Kamal defended the investigation and invited committee members to present their concerns and objections.

Meanwhile, the Senate Standing Committee on Health examined medical and emergency care, fire-safety arrangements, administrative shortcomings, accountability, and measures to prevent similar incidents.

During a visit to the Pims nursery, the committee expressed serious concern over the reported absence of fire alarms and the alleged closure of emergency exits, highlighting significant gaps in the hospital’s safety arrangements.