ISLAMABAD:
The federal government has announced a compensation of Rs5 million for the families of each newborn who died in a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad.
In a statement, the government expressed its deep sympathy with the affected families and pledged to provide all possible assistance and support. The announcement came after 14 newborns lost their lives in a fire that broke out in the hospital’s nursery on Wednesday.
The government acknowledged that financial aid could never compensate for the loss of human life, but said the compensation was intended to help alleviate the hardships faced by the grieving families.
Authorities have also launched investigations into the incident to determine the cause of the fire and to assess whether any negligence or safety lapses 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.
