Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the implementation of short-term measures recommended in an inquiry report regarding the PIMS fire within three months. The August 26 fire at PIMS claimed 14 newborn lives and led to criminal action against eight officials. During a meeting chaired by Sharif, he emphasized improving hospital standards and sought recommendations from other medical institutes for fire safety enhancements. The performance audit found only 39.7% compliance with assessed indicators, and immediate measures are being implemented based on the report’s findings.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-16,
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Story summary
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered on Wednesday that short-term measures recommended in an inquiry report into a deadly August 26 fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) be implemented within three months. The fire, which occurred at PIMS' Mother and Child Hospital nursery, claimed the lives of 14 newborns, raising serious concerns about fire safety standards.
During a meeting chaired by Sharif to discuss an action plan for improving PIMS, it was decided that personnel with strong professional reputations should be employed at the hospital. Additionally, the prime minister directed the Ministry of National Health Services to conduct an audit of Polyclinic Hospital and prepare a restructuring plan to address any irregularities identified.
Sharif emphasized taking every possible step to improve the facility's standards and align them with international requirements. He also instructed that assistance and recommendations be sought from the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Centre for enhancing the fire safety system at PIMS.
Written for “Pims Inquiry Implementation” on 2026-09-17,
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed authorities to implement the short-term measures recommended in an inquiry report into the fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) within three months.
asserted
Sharif → direct → months
He issued the directives while chairing a meeting on an action plan for improving Pims, where the inquiry report and the performance audit by the Ministry of National Health Services were reviewed, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
uncertain
report → issue → Office
The August 26 fire at a nursery in Pims’ Mother and Child Hospital claimed the lives of 14 newborns.
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fire → claim → newborns
The incident raised concerns over fire safety measures and sparked calls for accountability, with criminal action being ordered against eight officials.
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action → raise → officials
During Wednesday’s meeting, the prime minister directed that the short-term measures in the inquiry report should be implemented within the next three months.
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measures → direct → months
He also emphasised taking “every possible step” to improve the hospital and align it with international requirements.
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He → emphasise → requirements
He directed that assistance and recommendations should be sought from the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Centre for the fire safety system.
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assistance → direct → system
He also directed that measures to ensure the free provision of medicines and facilities at the hospital be made part of the action plan.
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measures → direct → plan
The prime minister called for personnel with strong professional reputations to be employed at the hospital, adding that a comprehensive action plan based on the recommended long-term measures should be formulated.
PM Shehbaz also directed to carry out an audit of Polyclinic Hospital to address irregularities, adding that a plan for its restructuring should also be prepared.
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plan → call → restructuring
He said that Capital Development Authority (CDA) should ensure the implementation of fire safety measures in all public and private hospitals in Islamabad.
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Authority → say → Islamabad
“The CDA and relevant agencies should also conduct fire safety audits of public and private offices and buildings and ensure the implementation of safety measures,” the premier was quoted as saying.
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premier → conduct → measures
During the meeting, the premier was informed that the performance audit of Pims found only 39.7 per cent compliance against indicators assessed.
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audit → inform → indicators
It was also informed that immediate implementation was being ensured on 37 proposed measures in light of the investigative report.
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implementation → inform → report
The meeting was also briefed on short, medium and long-term measures for improving the hospital.
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meeting → brief → hospital
The inquiry committee was formed on PM Shehbaz’s directives on the day the fire occurred.
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fire → form → day
It presented its findings and recommendations in a 43-page report on Wednesday.
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It → present → Wednesday
The committee said that the deadly blaze was most likely caused by a localised electrical failure, while also calling out the hospital management for systemic and institutional failure that turned the fire into a catastrophe.
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that → say → catastrophe
The committee, headed by former interior secretary Shahid Khan, said in its report that abnormal localised electrical heating — possibly from excessive current, a high-resistance connection or another localised defect — most probably caused insulation failure and ignition of nearby combustible material.
uncertain
heating → head → material
The report, however, pointed out a “history of known but incompletely closed risks”, citing prior warnings, such as the fire at the nursing hostel in Pims.
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report → point → Pims
“Yet those warnings had not been converted into a comprehensive, time-bound and independently verified corrective programme before the nursery fire,” the report regretted.
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report → convert → fire
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