PM orders suspension of health secretary over PIMS newborn deaths

A high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was held to review the deaths of newborn babies at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad.

During the meeting, the prime minister expressed strong anger at the officials concerned and ordered the immediate suspension and removal of Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghori from his post.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also constituted a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the incident. Former Interior Secretary Shahid Khan will head the committee. Other members include Establishment Secretary Dr Barrister Noel Awan.

Earlier today, a fire broke out in the nursery of the gynaecology ward at PIMS Hospital in Islamabad, resulting in the deaths of 15 newborn babies.

According to Rescue sources, the fire started at around 6:45am after an air-conditioning compressor reportedly exploded in the hospital nursery. The fire was later brought under control, while cooling operations remained underway.

Hospital authorities said that 16 babies were present in the nursery when the fire broke out. A lady doctor managed to rescue only one baby, while the remaining 15 newborns died in the incident.

The government has ordered a high-level investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire, establish responsibility and examine whether any safety or administrative lapses contributed to the deaths.