PIMS tragedy expose growing rift between IHRA and Health Ministry

ISLAMABAD: The deaths of newborns at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) have triggered a widening institutional dispute, with serious differences emerging between the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) and the Ministry of National Health Services.

A letter and internal Board record obtained by Minute Mirror reveal that the IHRA Board formally conveyed a series of concerns to the Health Ministry regarding the performance and administrative conduct of former IHRA CEO Dr Muhammad Zaeem Zia, who is currently holding the additional charge of Director General Health.

The Board’s communication reportedly highlighted alleged violations of rules and procedures, discrepancies in official records, appointments and expenditures made without the required approval, and the alleged misuse of government vehicles and fuel.

According to the documents, the Board also questioned the manner in which important regulatory and administrative matters were handled during Dr Zia’s tenure. It alleged that certain issues were not brought before the Board for consideration and that some of its decisions were not implemented within the required timeframe.

The Board further raised concerns over the posting of officials from Dr Zia’s former office, the District Health Office (DHO), to the IHRA. According to the Board’s record, some of these officials were subsequently accused of involvement in extortion, while the Board expressed concern over the alleged failure to properly implement an inquiry into the matter.

The dispute intensified following the PIMS newborn deaths, with the IHRA Board alleging that Dr Zia provided the Health Ministry with an account that sought to distance the regulatory authority from responsibility for the incident. The Board maintained that its assessment was based on official records and administrative matters rather than personal considerations.

The internal record also contains concerns over the attribution of credit for several digital initiatives. The Board claimed that projects resulting from collective efforts by the IHRA Board and its various directorates were instead attributed to a single individual.

Sources further claimed that Dr Zia has the backing of an influential political figure. However, this claim could not independently be verified.

The controversy has gained further significance following the resignation of IHRA Chairperson Dr Muhammad Riaz Shahbaz Janjua on August 31, 2026. The federal government subsequently accepted his resignation with immediate effect, adding another layer to the institutional turmoil surrounding the healthcare regulator.

Minute Mirror contacted Dr Zaeem Zia to obtain his response to the allegations, but his version was not available at the time of publication.

The developments have raised broader questions about regulatory oversight, institutional accountability and the chain of responsibility surrounding the PIMS tragedy. While investigations into the newborn deaths continue, the emerging dispute between the healthcare regulator and the ministry has shifted attention toward whether shortcomings in oversight may have contributed to the crisis and where responsibility ultimately lies.I can also make the headline more explosive and investigative in the style of a front-page exclusive while keeping the wording legally cautious.