Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal Has Vowed That No One Responsible For The PIMS Fire Tragedy Will Be Spared, As The Government Faces Growing Pressure To Establish Accountability For The Deaths Of 15 Newborn Babies.
Speaking In Parliament On Friday, Kamal Said The Government Would Ensure That Accountability Was Based On Evidence And That Anyone Found Responsible For Negligence Would Face Action. He Also Offered Himself For Accountability, Saying The Tragedy Must Not Be Allowed To Become An Issue That Fades Away After A Few Days.
The Fire Broke Out In The Mother And Child Health Ward At Pakistan Institute Of Medical Sciences (PIMS) In Islamabad On August 26. Fourteen Newborns Died In The Blaze, While One Baby Was Rescued. Initial Findings Pointed To A Spark In An Air-Conditioning Unit, With Oxygen Lines Contributing To The Rapid Spread Of The Fire.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Has Ordered An Investigation Into The Incident, While Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghori Was Suspended Following The Tragedy. The Government Has Also Initiated Reviews Of Fire-Safety Arrangements At Hospitals.
Kamal Said The Investigation Must Establish The Root Causes Of The Disaster And Ensure That Similar Incidents Do Not Happen Again. The Government Has Also Announced Financial Assistance Of Rs5 Million For Each Affected Family.
