"I have no idea where my child is. Give me my child," says affected parent. Updated Wednesday, Aug 26, 2026. At least 15 infants were killed in a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), with officials saying it was due to an issue in the air conditioning system. "I have no idea where my child is. Give me my child," said an affected parent, as eyewitnesses stated that rescue personnel arrived late while doctors also failed to make all-out efforts to save the patients. The incident is among the deadliest hospital fires in recent years in the country, where government healthcare is subsidised but facilities are under-resourced and overburdened. Pims, centrally located in Islamabad, is one of the main public hospitals of the city of around 1.1 million people.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif suspended the Secretary of Health while announcing that a high-level committee has initiated an investigation into the fire. "Former Interior Secretary Shahid Khan will head the committee," he added. Analysts, experts, and politicians expressed deep grief over the incident, demanding an independent inquiry. Senior journalist Hamid Mir remarked regarding the inquiry committee set up by the prime minister that once again, many bureaucrats have been included with whom he personally has a good relationship. However, he believes that today, we must speak the truth and express our opinions without any fear.
"Any bureaucrat who resides in Islamabad and has had any association with the suspended secretary should not be included in this inquiry committee. Look, several hours have passed now; we have come to know many things, and we have learned many facts directly from eyewitnesses - from those grieving mothers who are still present there, and from many other patients. So this incident that has occurred... the primary responsibility lies with the Health Ministry, followed by the administration of Pims. Furthermore, the main reason for the deaths of these children is that the staff present on the spot made no effort to save them," he added, noting that eyewitnesses reported nurses and other staff prevented people from stepping outside and locked doors to hide the fire.
"Another deeply concerning aspect is that although a few individuals subsequently attempted to save the children, many nurses on-site claimed the fire was too severe to even try. I believe that if such an incident can occur in the heart of Pakistan's capital - barely three to four kilometres from Parliament House, President House, and Prime Minister House - and 14 to 15 children lose their lives, merely suspending a federal secretary is not enough. The prime minister suspended the federal secretary yet did not write a single word about the health minister in his official statement, because the minister belongs to an allied political party. The minister himself criticises the performance of the Sindh government day and night - criticism that you and I also share - yet today, when such a major incident has occurred within his own ministry, he says, 'Look, you people are emotional right now; I will not answer your questions.' Therefore..."