Both houses of the parliament – the National Assembly and the Senate – suspended their routine business on Friday to take up the painful tragedy at PIMS Hospital where 14 newly-born babies died due to massive fire two days ago, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The National Assembly unanimously approved a resolution calling for an impartial inquiry into the tragic incident, while expressing condolences to the families.
Through the resolution, lawmakers expressed “profound grief and sorrow” over the incident, strongly condemned it and raised alarm at the circumstances surrounding the fire. It added that the circumstances were a result of “sheer negligence”.
The resolution called upon the government to “take strict action against anyone responsible for negligence or safety lapses in accordance with the law”.
The legislators also called on the government to ensure that fire safety and emergency preparedness measures were strictly implemented in federal government hospitals, “particularly in neonatal and paediatric units”, to prevent such incidents in the future.
“The House extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prays for strength and fortitude for them in this hour of profound grief,” the resolution said.
Kamal says ‘no one’ will be spared
Talking about the blaze at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Senate on Friday, Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination Mustafa Kamal vowed that “no one will be spared”, and the country’s health sector needed to be reformed.
The minister said: “No one intends to spare or save anyone. I am saying this on behalf of the prime minister and the entire government that not a single person will be spared”.
He said that the tragedy cannot be an “episode lasting merely a few days,” as he called for accountability and for efforts to prevent such incidents in the future.
The minister warned against “suppressing the issue” and invited the House to work towards a way forward. “Look at your resources, management and actions and then involve everyone to suggest a way forward,” he said, assuring that the government will support such an approach.
“This is a matter of children’s lives, and we are answerable to God for it. The ministry is nothing; we cannot ruin our afterlife for these ministries,” he remarked.
At the outset of his address, the minister expressed sorrow at the lives lost in the incident. “There can be no explanation for this. I am holding myself responsible, and I have presented myself to be held accountable.”
He called for a holistic approach toward investigating the incident, urging that any committee formed to probe should not be “time-bound and should remain open”.
“When you go investigate this incident, you will find so many things associated with it,” he said, pointing to a larger “rot” within the sector.
Kamal held that the health sector was not “ideal”. “Four hundred thousand children between the ages of one and five die every year, 1,300 die every day; they are all dying preventable deaths,” he said.
He continued: “It is not possible to bring back the infants who died at Pims, but let us look at it as a test from God and prevent the next kid from dying.”
Kamal maintained that there was “no point” in making speeches if the government failed to learn from the incident. “Start from me,” Kamal said, offering himself up for accountability.
“Sit with us and save the next from dying. I am putting the entire ministry at your disposal; every person will be answerable to you,” he said.
He noted that the system was “rotten” and went on to say: “Where do I find a better person after removing an incompetent one?”
Kamal said that when the day ended, “1,300 children would have died across the country”.
Speaking about the inquiry committee’s report on the incident, which he said would be presented by tonight, Kamal assured the House: “If you don’t trust it, fair enough, we will listen to you.”
The minister once again reassured the House that, “No one will be spared, no matter how influential they are”. “We have to come up with a solution, and I am inviting you to guide us and give us a strategic roadmap,” he said. Kamal said that the health ministry would provide all the relevant input and information.
“Sit with us and find a way forward on how to prevent the next child from dying due to negligence within the resources that we have. I assure you of its implementation”.
However, he added that if matters were to move in that direction, “no MNA should call and ask why a certain doctor was removed”.
Calling for “radical reforms” in the health sector, Kamal urged that the Pims fire “can serve as a basis for how we can prevent more children from dying”.
He further stated that he was “withholding his information” on the fire until the committee’s report. “If you are dissatisfied, then form a committee, and everyone stands ready to be held accountable”.
Concluding his address, Kamal urged that the “issue should be only closed at a point where we can prevent similar incidents in the future”. “I am willing to sit here all night and listen,” he added.
Special committees okayed
The Senate approved a motion introduced by PPP’s Senator Sherry Rehman for forming a Senate’s Special Committee on PIMS tragedy, which will review the matter and the investigation.
The National Assembly also approved a resolution regarding forming a committee on the issue.
Tarar says PIMS fire a deeply painful tragedy
Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar described the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) incident as a deeply painful tragedy, saying the entire nation was saddened by the loss of lives.
Speaking in the National Assembly, Tarar said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had constituted two committees soon after the tragic fire incident to ascertain its causes and recommend measures to prevent such incidents in future. The government was committed to determining the factors and causes that led to the tragic incident, he added.
He said a former interior secretary, a highly reputed officer, had been entrusted with the inquiry and given two days to submit an interim report. He said the interim report was expected by Friday evening and its contents would be shared. The committee had also been directed to submit a detailed report to the prime minister within seven days. Based on the committee’s recommendations, necessary action would be taken, he added.
Tarar said another four-member committee, headed by Dr Azhar Kiyani, had also been constituted to review the overall condition and requirements of PIMS and submit recommendations for its improvement.
The committee included a retired professor of medicine, a retired civil servant and another expert, he added.
The Law Minister said the body had been notified as an administrative management oversight committee and would submit its report within seven days.
Expressing sympathy with the families affected by the tragedy, the minister said there were no adequate words to express the nation’s grief and solidarity with them.
He urged lawmakers to rise above political narratives while discussing the incident. Instead, they should present concrete and practical suggestions on the floor of the National Assembly to help prevent such tragedies in future.
“We are all Pakistanis and, in one way or another, parents of children,” he said, stressing that the focus should remain on reforms and measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
Pervaiz Ashraf calls for parliamentary probe
Former prime minister and PPP leader Raja Pervez Ashraf called for a thorough parliamentary investigation into the tragic fire incident at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), in which newborn babies lost their lives.
Speaking in the National Assembly, Ashraf urged the National Assembly speaker to constitute a parliamentary committee comprising members from both the government and opposition to investigate the incident.
Earlier, the motion was passed to discuss the PIMS fire tragedy by suspending the retinue agenda of the house.
He also proposed that the committee visit PIMS, examine the situation on the ground and hear from the hospital administration, parents of the deceased babies, nurses, doctors and other staff.
Ashraf said the committee should determine whether any doctor, nurse or security official was injured while 14 newborn babies lost their lives.
He stressed that Parliament should ensure a complete and impartial investigation and bring the facts before the nation.
Ashraf said the committee should include experts, including those with expertise in hospital safety, electrical installation and fire hazards.
He said the incident was deeply heartbreaking and had left the entire nation in mourning.
Ashraf stressed that the PIMS tragedy required a serious review of the entire healthcare and safety system to prevent such incidents in the future.
PPP leader questioned how a fire could break out in a nursery and why, even after three days, the authorities had not determined how it started.
He asked whether any staff member was present with the babies when the fire broke out and what steps were taken to rescue them.
He also questioned reports that doors, including an emergency exit, were closed, saying such arrangements required a proper investigation.
Ashraf said the tragedy occurred at the country’s major hospital in the federal capital.
He said hospitals required proper training, funding and systems to identify and prevent potential hazards.
Ashraf questioned the conflicting explanations about the cause of the fire, including reports involving an air-conditioning system, an electrical spark and wiring.
He said the government should first establish the actual cause of the tragedy before taking administrative action against officials.
Ashraf warned that merely passing a resolution, delivering speeches and offering prayers would not be enough. He called for those found responsible for negligence to be held accountable after a transparent investigation.
NA suspends routine business
The National Assembly on Friday suspended its scheduled business to discuss the tragic fire incident at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), in which newborn babies lost their lives.
The motion was moved to suspend the Orders of the Day, Question Hour and other business for August 28, 2026. The move provided an opportunity for all members to discuss the tragic PIMS incident and express their views on the loss of precious lives.
Earlier, PPPP MNA Shazia Marri requested the Deputy Speaker to suspend the routine business of the House to discuss the PIMS fire tragedy.
Federal Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh moved the motion for suspension of the business and discussion on the PIMS tragedy.
Reporters Usman Khan and Rozina Ali