Senate body rejects Pims fire inquiry report as PM orders reforms in 3 months

Senate body rejects Pims fire inquiry report as PM orders reforms in 3 months

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary body on Wednesday rejected a “flawed” report on the catastrophic fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) that claimed 14 infant lives as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered authorities to complete reforms at Pims within three months. The Performance Audit Report found only 39.7 per cent compliance against the acceptable benchmark of 90pc among the indicators assessed. The prime minister was chairing a meeting on a roadmap for improving the hospital, during which the inquiry report on the hospital and the Health Ministry’s performance were reviewed. He directed that all short-term recommendations contained in the inquiry report be implemented within three months and called for measures to bring Pims in line with international standards. HR committee questions accountability of senior management over deaths of 14 newborns He also directed authorities to seek technical assistance from the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) to improve fire safety arrangements at Pims and consider recommendations contained in a World Health Organisation report. According to the briefing, the Pims performance audit found only 39.7pc compliance against the 90pc acceptable benchmark. The meeting was informed that work had begun on 37 immediate measures recommended in the inquiry report. The prime minister also ordered the preparation of a long-term plan for Pims, including measures to ensure the free availability of medicines and facilities and the appointment of professionally reputable staff. He also directed an audit of the Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital, removal of irregularities and preparation of a restructuring plan. The Capital Development Authority was asked to ensure fire safety compliance at all public and private hospitals in Islamabad and conduct fire safety audits of government and private offices and buildings. Separately, a parliamentary body on Wednesday rejected the “flawed” Pims infant death report while discussing the tragedy involving the deaths of 14 infants last month. The displeasure was expressed when the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights took up the agenda regarding the deaths of 14 newborn infants at Pims. The committee completely rejected the inquiry report submitted by the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Health. The chairperson of the committee, Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, questioned the omission of senior management from accountability, observing that lower-tier staff and third-party security vendors were being scapegoated while top officials, including the Executive Director, were spared. The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights, in its meeting held at Parliament House, expressed strong dissatisfaction over administrative negligence, incomplete investigations and procedural delays in multiple high-profile cases involving loss of life, domestic abuse, child marriage and targeted harassment. The meeting was attended by Senators Khalil Tahir, Poonjo Bheel, Quratul Ain Marri, Syed Masroor Ehsan and Hafiz Abdul Karim. Calling out severe administrative flaws, including locked entry doors during critical hours, the committee directed that an FIR be registered against the primary culprits, with their complete names and designations submitted, along with full forensic and DNA reports, before the next meeting. It is pertinent to mention that a committee formed to probe the fire at Pims that claimed the lives of 14 babies had concluded that the deadly blaze was most likely caused by a localised electrical failure. The report also held the hospital management responsible for systemic and institutional failures that turned the incident into a catastrophe. Headed by former interior secretary Shahid Khan, the committee said in its 43-page report that abnormal localised electrical heating, possibly caused by an electrical surge, a high-resistance connection or another electrical defect, most probably led to insulation failure and the ignition of nearby combustible material. Last week, the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights had directed authorities to register an FIR over the fire at the nursery. Addressing the murder of Hina Zareef at Nilore Police Station, the committee instructed the SP concerned to present comprehensive forensic reports and examine all angles, including potential domestic violence, while directing that necessary legal action be finalised by the next sitting. Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2026