A reckoning

Editorial Published September 1, 2026 Updated September 1, 2026 08: 05am.

Key points

• There have been plenty of such tragic episodes in recent memory – the Baldia fire disaster, Gul Plaza etc.
• Elsewhere, the Islamabad administration has swung into action, sealing buildings and fining hospitals for fire safety violations.
• LAST week's horrific fire tragedy at the Pims' nursery has elicited a flurry of responses from the state.
• It notes that while the cause of the fire cannot be conclusively established at this point, there were "serious shortcomings" in Pims' fire safety arrangements.

Editorial Published September 1, 2026 Updated September 1, 2026 08: 05am. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

LAST week's horrific fire tragedy at the Pims' nursery has elicited a flurry of responses from the state. Inquiries have been introduced, office-holders have faced the axe, and pledges have been created 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 projected, 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 notes 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 additionally broken out at the same hospital in July. After that blaze, "corrective measures had not been adequately implemented", nevertheless. Those responsible for such criminal negligence must be created 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 administration hospital in the entire division. The Punjab administration, by contrast, has confirmed a number of steps to prevent similar tragedies. As well as preparing SOPs for nurseries and neonatology units, this includes deploying Rescue 1122 units at all teaching hospitals in the province.

These are positive first steps, and they need to be created part of established procedures nationwide to prevent future tragedies. The Sindh administration has additionally identified over 3, 300 buildings for safety audits. The provincial chapter of the Pakistan Medical Association has cautioned that numerous health facilities in Sindh remain vulnerable, particularly rural and district hospitals. It has additionally called on 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 sizeable numbers of residents live and work. The outrage must be channelled into proactive public policy where the safety of citizens is prioritised.

There have been plenty of such tragic episodes in recent memory – the Baldia fire disaster, Gul Plaza etc. Nevertheless, 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.

In short, a reckoning is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.