A fire broke out on August 26, 2026, shortly after 6:30 a.m. in the neonatal and maternity ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad, killing 14 of the 15 infants in care [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. The blaze engulfed the unit within approximately two minutes, spreading rapidly through oxygen outlets connected to incubators [1, 2, 3, 5, 7].

Emergency services were called six minutes after the fire began, but first responders only arrived 15 minutes after receiving the call [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7]. Parents and witnesses reported the response was slow and that security guards prevented people from leaving the hospital during the fire [1, 2, 5, 6].

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the suspension of eight officials linked to the incident, including the hospital’s executive director, the head of the neonatal department, two joint executive directors, two senior doctors, a security official, and the head of Islamabad’s emergency services [1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7]. Sharif said, "Those responsible for criminal negligence do not deserve any concession and they will be brought to justice" and called the deaths a "heartbreaking tragedy" [1, 3, 7].

The health secretary, Aslam Ghori, Pakistan’s top health department civil servant, was also dismissed [1, 5, 6]. Authorities announced criminal proceedings against the officials and action against the private security company responsible for hospital security, although the company's name was not released [1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7].

Investigations found the hospital lacked adequate fire safety measures, including no fire alarm or sprinkler system and minimal emergency training for staff. Only two of 13 standard operating procedures related to fire were in place [3, 4, 6, 7]. At the time of the fire, supervisory staff were absent; only two nurses, a female security guard, and a house officer were present in the nursery ward [1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7].

The fire’s cause remains under investigation. An early, unconfirmed theory suggests a spark from an air conditioner may have ignited the blaze [1, 5, 6].

Pakistan announced compensation of 5 million Pakistani rupees (about $18,000) for each family who lost a newborn [7]. A nurse who saved one infant before the fire spread will receive the Sitara-i-Khidmat state award for public service [7].

Large building fires have been common in Pakistan due to lax safety laws and weak enforcement. Past deadly fires occurred in Karachi shopping malls in 2023 and January 2026 as well as a garment factory in 2012 [1, 5, 6].

Reports detailing the investigation findings, suspensions, compensation, and awards were published on August 30, 2026 [5, 6, 7].