Shocked by PIMS fire, GOVT taps ex-interior secretory SHAHID KHAN to lead inquiry 

The federal government has appointed former Interior Secretary Shahid Khan to head the inquiry into the deadly fire

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has appointed former Interior Secretary Shahid Khan to head the inquiry into the deadly fire at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) that claimed the lives of 14 newborns on August 26.

The appointment comes as authorities face growing questions over the hospital’s emergency preparedness, staff training, safety arrangements and response mechanisms following the tragic incident.

Shahid Khan, 70, served as Interior Secretary until February 2016. He stepped down from the position at the time, citing health-related reasons and a demanding workload. He was subsequently succeeded by Arif Ahmad Khan and was later transferred to the Presidency, where he served as Secretary to the President of Pakistan.

After his departure from the Interior Ministry, Shahid Khan continued to serve in senior government positions. During his public service career, he also came under legal scrutiny in connection with the allocation of a commercial plot by the National Police Foundation. The matter reportedly prompted an investigation by the National Accountability Bureau, according to sources familiar with the case.

Officials said Shahid Khan has now formally begun work on the inquiry into the PIMS fire. The development comes amid demands for a transparent investigation and accountability for any negligence that may have contributed to the deaths.

The inquiry team is expected to examine not only the immediate circumstances surrounding the fire but also wider institutional weaknesses that may have worsened the situation.

Following the PIMS tragedy, administrations of several government hospitals have reportedly started taking emergency measures, including installing additional equipment to improve their ability to respond to fires and other critical situations.

However, health officials and experts have cautioned that equipment alone cannot prevent such tragedies unless hospital employees are properly trained to use it.

“If staff members are not regularly trained to deal with emergency situations, the installation of additional equipment will not be enough,” officials observed.

Initial information gathered by the inquiry team indicates that several factors may have contributed to the scale of the tragedy. These include inadequate training of nursery staff in emergency response, incomplete availability of essential firefighting and emergency equipment, and an alleged delay in the arrival of rescue teams.

According to the initial account, staff members reportedly fled the nursery after the fire broke out because they were not adequately prepared to handle the emergency.

Of the 16 newborns present in the PIMS nursery at the time, 14 reportedly lost their lives.

The inquiry is expected to investigate whether existing safety protocols were properly implemented and whether staff members received adequate training and emergency drills.

PIMS operates directly under the Ministry of National Health Services, placing the hospital’s safety and emergency preparedness systems under significant public scrutiny.

The hospital has stated that investigations into the incident are continuing on different forums. The committee headed by Shahid Khan is expected to submit its findings and recommendations to the federal government.

Civil society groups have called for the inquiry report to be made public within the stipulated 15-day period. They have also demanded immediate implementation of recommendations relating to staff training, emergency preparedness, firefighting equipment and hospital staffing.

The tragedy has once again highlighted the need for stronger safety standards and regular emergency preparedness across public hospitals so that similar incidents can be prevented in the future.