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Shehbaz Sharif Orders Investigation After Hospital Fire Kills 14 Infants in Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an immediate investigation into a tragic hospital fire that killed at least 14 infants in the Pakistani capital. The blaze occurred at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) maternity ward around 7 a.m. local time on Wednesday. The fire, which was reportedly triggered by an air-conditioning compressor explosion, left only one of the 15 newborns in the ward alive. Critics have pointed to inadequate safety protocols and locked doors that hindered rescue efforts. While some witnesses reported that staff were absent and doors were locked, the hospital's executive director, Rana Imran Sikander, stated the ward was manned and the doors were kept closed to prevent babies from being stolen. The administration's response included the suspension of Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the incident, promising strict action against those responsible for the mismanagement of the state-run facility.

Sources