After deadly blaze at Pims, Punjab authorities, hospitals told to ensure fire safety

After deadly blaze at Pims, Punjab authorities, hospitals informed to ensure fire safety.

Key points

• News DeskAPP Published August 27, 2026 Updated August 27, 2026 12: 19pm.
• The directives have been issued after a deadly fire killed 14 infants at Islamabad's Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Wednesday.
• They were additionally informed to ensure rectifications wherever necessary and submit a compliance report to the Implementation and Coordination Wing secretary by August 29.
• "The Implementation and Coordination Wing secretary shall accordingly submit the compliance report gathered from health departments for information/orders of the chief minister by August 30."
• The Implementation and Coordination Wing secretary was directed to submit a compliance report on this as well by September 4.

News DeskAPP Published August 27, 2026 Updated August 27, 2026 12: 19pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

Hospitals and relevant authorities throughout Punjab have been directed to take fire safety measures, with provincial chief executive Maryam Nawaz instructing a fresh audit of arrangements at healthcare facilities.

Notably, the directives have been issued after a deadly fire killed 14 infants at Islamabad's Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Wednesday. The fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Hospital's ward, and preliminary details indicate that a spark in the air conditioner led to the fire.

Witnesses remarked they waited hours for assist from the emergency services, were forced to smash through windows to try and obtain to the neonatal intensive care unit and came throughout locked doors. Authorities, nevertheless, insist otherwise.

Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokahri remarked in an X post on Wednesday evening that Maryam had directed that a fresh audit of fire safety arrangements at hospitals in the province be conducted in 24 hours and sought a report. She additionally shared a document carrying Maryam's instructions in her post.

According to The document, all deputy commissioners should immediately take stock of the availability and functionality of the fire extinguishers and firefighting arrangements at all public sector health facilities in their respective districts.

Notably, the inspection teams must additionally assess the suitability and accessibility of the existing emergency exits and review them in consultation with the Rescue 1122 teams, keeping in view the emergency parameters, it stated.

Secretaries of the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department and Health and Population Department were asked to instruct field formations, medical superintendents and health chief executive officers to assist district administrations in completing the task.

Then, the secretary of the Services and General Administration Department's Implementation and Coordination Wing should prepare a consolidated report and "submit it for information/orders of the chief minister by August 27 2026", the document remarked.

Maryam additionally issued directives for Rescue 1122 to immediately review the "existing availability and functionality of hydrant points and accordingly identify installation of new hydrant points within or in close proximity of all health facilities keeping in view the emergency situation access parameters".

"Respective health departments shall ensure any rectifications and new installation of water hydrants with the assistance of the Housing Urban Development and Public Health Engineering Department, emergency services/ 1122 and L ocal Government & Community Development Department, " the document further stated, adding that this task should be completed within a week.

Divisional commissioners should personally supervise this activity to achieve completion within seven days, it remarked.

In practice, the Implementation and Coordination Wing secretary was directed to submit a compliance report on this as well by September 4.

Maryam additionally directed health secretaries to carry out a "complete review" of the safe functionality of air conditioners, electric wiring and other electro-medical equipment in hospitals under their administrative control, through respective medical superintendents and chief executive officers of DHA. They were additionally informed to ensure rectifications wherever necessary and submit a compliance report to the Implementation and Coordination Wing secretary by August 29.

Moreover, deputy commissioners in Punjab were informed to produce "monthly emergency mock drills in health facilities a permanent feature for continuous periodic assessment to ensure compliance with all emergency parameters, including but not limited to the ones indicated above".

For context, the Punjab chief minister additionally asked health secretaries and the Infrastructure Development Authority's chief executive officer to prepare a feasibility report for installing technology-driven fire-alarm safety systems, smoke detectors and water sprinkler systems in intensive care units, nurseries and emergency units of tehsil headquarters hospitals, district headquarter hospitals and tertiary care hospitals and submit it after a week.

"Further necessary action may be taken accordingly on top priority, " the document stated.

On Thursday, the Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) additionally issued urgent directives for the effective implementation of fire safety measures in public and private hospitals throughout Punjab.

Notably, the PHC directed health departments, the Punjab Emergency Services Department and hospital managements to take immediate steps to ensure comprehensive arrangements for responding to fire and non-fire emergencies.

Notably, the commission further directed hospital administrations to ensure the availability of trained personnel, functional emergency equipment, adequate resources and regular emergency drills to enable a prompt and effective response in case of an emergency.

It emphasised that all public and private hospitals must fully comply with the prescribed Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS), including requirements under the Facility Management System (FMS) and Hospital Infection Control (HIC).

Hospitals were directed to establish an emergency coding system, including "code red" for fire incidents, maintain functional firefighting equipment, train staff, conduct regular emergency drills and develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) in this regard.

They were additionally instructed to prominently display emergency exit maps and obtain the required building safety and fitness certificates.

In practice, the PHC asked the Punjab Emergency Services Department to inspect hospitals under Section 3(3) of the Punjab Community Safety Act, 2021, and the Punjab Community Safety Buildings Regulations, 2022.

It additionally instructed that fire safety audits of all public and private-sector hospitals be completed without delay.

While details of such institutions should be shared with the PHC, the commission directed, hospitals discovered non-compliant with applicable laws, rules, regulations or bylaws should be issued inspection reports containing recommendations for improvement.

In practice, the Punjab Emergency Services Department was additionally asked to provide details of inspections conducted during the past three years, along with a list of hospitals that failed to meet the requisite statutory requirements.

In short, after deadly blaze at Pims, Punjab authorities, hospitals told to ensure fire is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.