ISLAMABAD: The initial inquiry report into the devastating PIMS nursery fire has been submitted to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, with investigators reportedly identifying the causes of the tragedy, determining responsibility and recommending immediate action against officials and staff found responsible for negligence.
The report, prepared by the high-level inquiry committee headed by former interior secretary Shahid Khan, was submitted to the Prime Minister's Office, according to sources familiar with the development.
Sources said the report was submitted to the office of the prime minister's adviser, Tauqeer Shah, who subsequently forwarded it to the prime minister and briefed him on its findings and recommendations.
Inquiry committee sources have also confirmed that the report was sent to the Prime Minister's Office.
The submission marks a major development in the investigation into the August 26 fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), which killed newborn babies in the hospital's Mother and Child Health Ward.
All inquiry committee members signed the report
According to sources, the report carries the signatures of all members of the inquiry committee, indicating that its findings and recommendations were formally endorsed by the panel.
The committee has reportedly determined both the circumstances that led to the PIMS tragedy and the individuals or officials considered responsible.
Sources said the prime minister has also been given the authority to decide whether the complete inquiry report should be made public.
The report reportedly recommends that the government take immediate action against those found responsible.
The decision on disciplinary and administrative action will now rest with the federal government following the prime minister's review of the findings.
Inquiry reportedly recommends removal of 10 officials
Among the most significant recommendations emerging from the inquiry is the reported removal of 10 officers and relevant staff members, including senior officials responsible for the administration and management of PIMS.
Sources familiar with the report said the committee has recommended action against senior officers after concluding that serious negligence and administrative failures contributed to the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Five senior officials reportedly named for removal include:
- Executive Director PIMS Prof Dr Rana Imran Sikandar
- Deputy Executive Director Dr Aneza Jalil
- Joint Executive Director Dr Muhammad Iqbal Durrani
- Deputy Director Hassan Nawaz
- Joint Executive Director Children Dr Mutahir Shah
The report reportedly recommends removing a total of 10 officers and relevant staff members.
The full list and the exact nature of the proposed action against each individual have not yet been officially released.
Until the complete report is made public or the government issues formal orders, the recommendations should not be treated as final disciplinary decisions.
Action recommended against staff absent during the fire
The inquiry has also reportedly recommended action against relevant PIMS staff who were absent at the time of the fire.
This is among the most important aspects of the emerging findings because questions about the presence of doctors, nurses and other hospital employees had dominated the aftermath of the tragedy.
Affected families had alleged that medical and nursing staff were not present during the critical early moments of the fire.
One mother whose newborn died had alleged that she ran towards the neonatal intensive care unit and found the NICU locked.
Another affected woman said she became aware of the fire only after another woman raised the alarm and alleged that hospital staff had fled without informing families about the emergency.
Those accounts did not independently establish what happened inside the nursery.
However, the inquiry's reported recommendation for action against absent staff means investigators appear to have examined staff presence as part of their assessment of the emergency.
The report includes interviews with PIMS administrators and doctors, according to sources, while statements from the fire brigade and rescue teams were also recorded.
The final public version of the report, if released, may provide a clearer picture of who was on duty, who was present and what happened during the critical first minutes.
Report examines problems faced by rescue teams
The inquiry also reportedly documents difficulties faced by rescue teams during the emergency operation.
Sources said the committee examined the problems encountered during firefighting and rescue efforts as part of its reconstruction of the tragedy.
The report contains statements from the fire brigade and rescue teams, alongside accounts from PIMS management and doctors.
This could prove crucial in resolving conflicting accounts that emerged immediately after the fire regarding the emergency response.
Earlier, questions had been raised about:
- The exact time the fire began
- When the emergency call was made
- How quickly firefighters reached PIMS
- Whether doctors and nursing staff were present
- Whether access to the nursery and NICU was restricted
- Whether firefighting equipment was functional
The inquiry committee was tasked with examining the circumstances surrounding the fire and the response that followed.
Report reportedly finds PIMS facilities below international standards
The inquiry has also raised broader concerns about conditions at PIMS beyond the nursery fire itself.
According to sources, the report highlights inadequate treatment facilities and deficiencies in hospital infrastructure, concluding that none of the hospital's systems and facilities met international standards.
The finding is particularly significant because PIMS is one of Pakistan's most important public-sector hospitals and a major healthcare institution serving patients from Islamabad and other parts of the country.
The reported conclusion suggests investigators found deeper institutional weaknesses extending beyond a single department or equipment failure.
Sources earlier said the inquiry concluded that the hospital had been operating in an unprofessional manner and without an effective administrative structure.
The emerging recommendations therefore reportedly include not only action against individuals but also wider administrative reforms.
Permanent governing board recommended for PIMS
Among the structural reforms reportedly proposed is the establishment of a permanent governing board for PIMS.
The inquiry has reportedly recommended appointing qualified new officials to replace those removed and creating a governing body capable of providing regular oversight and ensuring effective management of the hospital.
According to the recommendations, a permanent governing board is considered necessary for professional administration, monitoring and institutional accountability.
The proposal could represent one of the most consequential long-term outcomes of the PIMS fire inquiry if accepted by the government.
Rather than treating the tragedy solely as an individual failure, the recommendation points towards concerns about the wider governance and management structure of the hospital.
Inquiry identifies causes and responsibility
Sources said the inquiry committee has determined the causes of the PIMS tragedy and identified those considered responsible.
The complete details of those findings, however, have not yet been officially released.
That distinction remains important.
Earlier accounts of the fire differed significantly, with various officials and rescue sources initially referring to a possible electrical short circuit, an air-conditioning compressor explosion and, later, a ruptured oxygen-related device near an incubator.
A preliminary report prepared by the PIMS administration had said an oxygen-related device associated with an incubator ruptured, causing oxygen to ignite and the fire to spread.
The high-level inquiry was expected to examine physical evidence, witness statements, hospital records, emergency response and safety arrangements before reaching its conclusions.
Until the full inquiry report is made public, the committee's final determination regarding the exact cause cannot be independently examined in detail.
PIMS executive director asked to step away
Meanwhile, Executive Director PIMS Prof Dr Rana Imran Sikandar has reportedly been instructed to remain away from his position while comprehensive investigations and administrative proceedings continue.
Hospital sources said he left his office after taking personal belongings and files and meeting close officials and staff.
Health ministry sources said he had been asked to stay away from the post pending the completion of the process.
No final government notification regarding his removal has yet been publicly issued.
PM now faces key accountability decision
The submission of the inquiry report places the next major decision before Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The prime minister has been informed about the contents and recommendations of the report and is expected to review its findings with the federal health minister and other relevant officials.
The inquiry's reported findings suggest that the PIMS tragedy may ultimately be remembered as more than a deadly hospital fire.
The report's recommendations against senior officials and absent staff, combined with concerns over inadequate facilities and calls for a permanent governing board, point towards systemic failures that investigators believe require institutional reform.
For the families who lost newborn babies, however, the most important outcome will be whether the inquiry leads to transparent accountability.
The report has now reached the prime minister.
The next test is whether its findings are made public — and whether those identified as responsible face action.
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