PIMS nursery fire: Minute Mirror reveals complete inquiry report as PM suspends 8

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has suspended eight senior officials of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and other agencies after an interim inquiry into the deadly fire at the PIMS Mother and Child Health (MCH) Nursery found serious failures in management, fire safety and emergency response.

The fire on August 26 claimed the lives of 14 newborns.

The prime minister has also ordered disciplinary action and possible criminal proceedings against those found responsible. The inquiry report says the exact cause of the fire is still being investigated, but makes it clear that accountability should not depend only on finding the initial spark.

Minute Mirror has exclusively obtained and reviewed the complete nine-page interim inquiry report, dated August 28, 2026.

Eight senior officials suspended

Following the recommendations of the inquiry committee, the following officials have been suspended under the E&D Rules 2020:

From PIMS:

* Prof Dr Imran Sikandar, Executive Director, PIMS
* Prof Dr Sadia Riaz, Head of Neonatology
* Dr Nagham, Senior Registrar, Neonatology
* Dr Mutahir Shah, Joint Executive Director, MCH
* Ch Waris Ali Raza, Joint Executive Director, Non-Medical
* Dr Nosheela Amjad, Director, MCH

From other agencies:

* Dr Abdul Rehman, Director General, Capital Emergency Service (CES), CDA
* Muhammad Usman, Assistant Director Security, PIMS

The prime minister has also directed that Dr Muhammad Salman, CEO of the National Institute of Health (NIH), be posted as Executive Director of PIMS on deputation with immediate effect.

What the report found

The inquiry committee found failures at several levels.

It said there were serious questions about staffing and supervision in the newborn unit. The report noted that the NICU was not properly supervised at the time of the incident and raised concerns about whether the required number of doctors and staff members were present.

The report also found major failures in administration and emergency preparedness. It said a previous fire at the PIMS Nursing Hostel on July 6 had already exposed weaknesses in fire safety. However, necessary improvements were not properly made.

According to the report, there were no proper fire drills, regular safety checks or a detailed plan to evacuate newborn babies during an emergency.

The inquiry also found problems with emergency exits. Firefighters reportedly had to forcibly open locked doors to enter or evacuate affected areas.

Questions over 16-minute response gap

One of the most serious issues raised by the report concerns the emergency response.

CCTV footage shows that the fire became visible at around 6:38am. However, Capital Emergency Service records show that the first emergency call was received at 6:54am.

The committee is investigating the apparent 16-minute gap and has said that phone records, control-room logs and CCTV footage will be examined further to establish exactly what happened.

What CCTV footage shows

The report says the nursery became filled with smoke within approximately two minutes.

According to the footage:

* At 6:38:15am, Charge Nurse Nasreen was seen running out to seek help.
* At 6:38:35am, Security Guard Maria entered the area while flames were visible.
* At 6:38:56am, Staff Nurse Razia entered the nursery.
* Just eight seconds later, at 6:39:04am, she emerged carrying the only baby rescued alive.
* By 6:40:08am, smoke had blocked the cameras’ view.

The committee said the CCTV footage did not support a general claim that frontline doctors, nurses and other staff had abandoned the newborns.

Hero nurse recommended for Rs10 million reward

Staff Nurse Razia has been praised for risking her own life to rescue the surviving baby. The prime minister has approved a Rs10 million reward for her and directed that she be recommended for a suitable civil award.

Charge Nurse Nasreen and Security Guard Maria have been directed to remain off duty until further orders while the inquiry continues.

Security company also under scrutiny

The inquiry report has raised serious questions about Belfort Security Services, the private company responsible for security at PIMS.

The report says the company may have failed to fulfil its contractual responsibilities. The government has ordered a review of its contract, while the Interior Ministry has been asked to examine the company’s licence and take action if required.

Cause of fire still unknown

The committee has not yet determined what started the fire. Investigators are examining several possibilities, including an electrical fault, an overloaded socket or a malfunction in equipment such as an air conditioner, incubator or warmer.

The report says a forensic examination will be needed to establish the exact ignition source.

However, the committee stressed that the tragedy was not only about what caused the first spark. It said responsibility must also be fixed for failures in safety, emergency planning and the protection of lives.

What happens next

The prime minister has ordered a hospital-wide fire and electrical safety audit at PIMS. Authorities have also been directed to inspect alarms, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, emergency lights, electrical systems and fire exits and to conduct regular emergency drills.

Criminal proceedings will be initiated where negligence or other failures are found to have contributed to the deaths.

The inquiry committee will now prepare a final report to determine individual responsibility and whether any officials face criminal charges.

The complete interim report paints a troubling picture: warning signs were already there after an earlier fire, but critical safety weaknesses remained. While the source of the spark is still unknown, the inquiry has made one thing clear — the failures that turned a fire into a national tragedy went far beyond the flames.

This is a developing story. Minute Mirror will continue to follow the inquiry and publish further verified details as they emerge.