ISLAMABAD: The federal government has announced compensation of Rs5 million for the family of each newborn who died in the fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad.
In a statement, the government said it shared the grief of the affected families and would provide them with all possible assistance and support. The announcement follows the deaths of 14 newborn babies in the nursery fire on Wednesday.
The government said the financial assistance could not compensate for the loss of human life but was intended to help ease the difficulties faced by the bereaved families.
Authorities have also launched investigations into the incident to determine the cause of the fire and establish whether any negligence or lapses in safety arrangements contributed to the tragedy.
14 Newborns Killed in PIMS Nursery Fire
The fire broke out in the PIMS nursery on August 26, where 15 newborns were reportedly present. Fourteen babies died, while one was rescued.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident, with the investigation tasked with examining the cause of the fire, emergency response, fire-safety arrangements and possible negligence.
More read, 14 infants killed in Islamabad hospital fire, latest in deadly pattern spanning 16 years
The tragedy has also prompted calls for accountability and improved fire-safety measures at hospitals to prevent similar incidents in the future.
