President confers Tamgha-e-Shujaat on brave PIMS nurse Razia Noreen

Noreen demonstrated exceptional bravery during the August 26 fire at the Mother and Child Hospital at PIMS, where she put her own safety at

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the conferment of the Tamgha-e-Shujaat on Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) staff nurse Razia Noreen in recognition of her extraordinary courage during a deadly hospital fire that claimed the lives of 14 newborns.

Noreen demonstrated exceptional bravery during the August 26 fire at the Mother and Child Hospital at PIMS, where she put her own safety at risk to rescue the only surviving newborn from the affected ward.

The tragedy triggered widespread public concern and calls for accountability, prompting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to constitute a five-member inquiry committee to investigate the incident and identify shortcomings in hospital safety arrangements.

Prime Minister Shehbaz had earlier approved the Sitara-e-Khidmat for Noreen along with a cash reward in recognition of her bravery. During a meeting with the nurse at the Prime Minister’s Office on September 3, the premier presented her with a cheque for Rs10 million and announced that she would receive the civil award on March 23, 2027.

The prime minister praised Noreen for risking her life to save the newborn, saying her courage and sense of duty had earned the respect of the nation.

The inquiry into the PIMS tragedy also identified a number of deficiencies in the hospital’s fire and emergency response systems. The committee’s interim findings recommended action against eight officials and highlighted concerns regarding emergency exits, escape routes, fire-safety equipment, electrical systems and emergency response procedures.

The report did not conclusively determine the source of the fire. Possible causes mentioned during the investigation included an air-conditioning unit, an incubator or warmer, and an electrical fault involving a short circuit or overloaded connection.

According to the findings, the Capital Emergency Services separately assessed the hospital’s fire and life-safety arrangements as inadequate. The report noted that some emergency exits and escape routes were locked or obstructed, while security and crowd-management issues complicated the initial response.

Firefighters were reportedly required to force open locked doors and other access points while responding to the emergency.

The inquiry committee has called for comprehensive inspection and testing of fire alarms, smoke and heat detection systems, extinguishers, hydrants, emergency lighting, electrical protection equipment and designated emergency exits. It also recommended technical checks of incubators, warmers, air-conditioning systems, electrical sockets, plugs, circuit breakers and other safety-critical equipment in high-risk clinical areas.

The government has also been urged to ensure that emergency exits remain immediately accessible while maintaining appropriate controlled access to sensitive neonatal units.

President Zardari’s approval of the Tamgha-e-Shujaat adds another formal recognition to Noreen’s actions during one of the most serious recent incidents at PIMS, while the wider investigation continues to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the hospital’s preparedness for emergencies.