Infants die in fire at Islamabad hospital

A fire broke out on the morning of Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. The blaze originated in the third floor of the hospital’s Mother and Child Healthcare wing due to a technical failure in an air conditioning unit. There were 16 newborns in the nursery at the time of the incident; only one was rescued.

Reports on the death toll vary, with local authorities and the office of the Islamabad administration officially confirming 14 infant fatalities. Conversely, some local media sources, including Geo TV, have cited a figure of 15 deaths. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed their profound sorrow over the tragedy, describing the loss as irreparable.

Prime Minister Sharif has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the blaze. The government aims to determine the specific causes of the equipment failure and identify any potential negligence that may have contributed to the catastrophe. Efforts to secure the site and complete the necessary procedural inquiries are currently underway.