A reckoning

LAST week’s horrific fire tragedy at the Pims’ nursery has elicited a flurry of responses from the state. Inquiries have been launched, officials have faced the axe, and pledges have been made to rectify the glaring lacunae that led to the heart-wrenching deaths of 14 newborns at the Islamabad hospital.

Yet while the sudden burst of activity is expected, these promises will remain meaningless unless the state prioritises safety protocols at hospitals and all major public and private buildings. The findings of the inquiry report are damning. It says that while the cause of the fire cannot be conclusively established at this point, there were “serious shortcomings” in Pims’ fire safety arrangements. A fire had also broken out at the same hospital in July. However, after that blaze, “corrective measures had not been adequately implemented”. Those responsible for such criminal negligence must be made to answer for their lapses.

Elsewhere, the Islamabad administration has swung into action, sealing buildings and fining hospitals for fire safety violations. Meanwhile, in Rawalpindi, it has emerged that there are no hydrants at any government hospital in the entire division. The Punjab government, on the other hand, has announced several steps to prevent similar tragedies. This includes deploying Rescue 1122 units at all teaching hospitals in the province, as well as preparing SOPs for nurseries and neonatology units.

These are positive first steps, and they need to be made part of established procedures nationwide to prevent future tragedies. The Sindh government has also identified over 3,300 buildings for safety audits. The provincial chapter of the Pakistan Medical Association has warned that many health facilities in Sindh remain vulnerable, particularly rural and district hospitals. It has also called for third-party safety and security audits of all public and private hospitals in the province. These warnings must be heeded before another tragedy occurs.

What must emerge from all of this is a resolve to put safety first, especially in settings like hospitals, schools, factories, apartments and other buildings where large numbers of people live and work. The outrage must be channelled into proactive public policy where the safety of citizens is prioritised.

There have been many such tragic episodes in recent memory — the Baldia fire disaster, Gul Plaza etc. However, in the aftermath of the Pims blaze, it cannot be business as usual. Accidents happen, but if established safety protocols are in place, precious lives can be saved and the damage minimised. Clearly, these protocols were not in place at the Pims’ nursery. In most Pakistani cities, fire hazards sit in plain sight. Addressing these dangers is a monumental task, but we cannot afford to sacrifice more lives to official lethargy.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2026