Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has approved the suspension of eight officials following the fire incident at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. The decision came after an inquiry committee identified them as responsible for the incident. The Prime Minister has also ordered both departmental and criminal proceedings against those involved.
According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister’s decision was made during a high-level meeting in Lahore where the interim report of the inquiry committee was presented. The suspended officials include PIMS Executive Director Professor Dr. Imran Sikandar and several other senior staff members from the medical and security departments. Additionally, action has been approved against the private security company and its officials stationed at PIMS.
In response to the suspensions, Shehbaz Sharif directed immediate appointments to fill the vacated positions. Dr. Muhammad Salman, Chief Executive Officer of the National Institutes of Health, was appointed Acting Executive Director of PIMS. The Prime Minister also approved a Sitara-i-Khidmat for a nurse who risked her life to save newborns during the fire. Further inquiries are to be conducted against a nurse and a female security guard present in the ward at the time of the incident.
The inquiry committee, headed by Shahid Khan, has been instructed to finalize its investigation and submit a detailed report. The Prime Minister emphasized that those found negligent will face severe consequences and expressed condolences for the deaths caused by the fire. The meeting revealed that the neonatal ward where the fire occurred lacked basic safety measures, and emergency services were delayed in responding. Previous incidents, such as a fire at the PIMS Nursing Hostel in July, had not led to improved safety protocols.
Federal Ministers and inquiry committee members attended the meeting, where it was decided that the interim report would be made public on the Ministry of National Health Services website.