KARACHI: In the wake of a fire that killed 14 infants at a federal hospital in Islamabad, authorities in Sindh province have ordered comprehensive safety reviews of all public buildings and health facilities, acknowledging widespread vulnerabilities in the region’s healthcare infrastructure.
The fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Wednesday has prompted provincial officials to mandate signed compliance certificates within 15 days for all government-run institutions, according to reports.
Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah chaired a high-level meeting Thursday, directing all provincial departments to complete fire safety inspections and submit verified certifications.
“Fire safety is an ongoing responsibility and cannot be limited to a one-time inspection,” Shah said during the meeting. He emphasized that timely safety measures, trained staff and well-organized evacuation plans could significantly reduce loss of life and property.
The chief secretary ordered special priority for hospitals, schools, prisons, hostels, orphanages and commercial centers, with particular attention to facilities housing children, women, patients and other vulnerable populations.
At a separate press conference Thursday, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) warned that health facilities in Sindh remain equally susceptible to similar tragedies. PMA representative Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Shoro described the Pims fire as “a predictable outcome of criminal negligence, complete administrative breakdown and structural failure.”
“If a flagship institution operating directly under federal oversight lacks functional emergency exits, maintained fire suppression systems and basic safety protocols, we must confront an uncomfortable truth: our healthcare system is in crisis from the top down,” Shoro said.
The PMA pointed to recent fire incidents at Sindh hospitals, including the National Institute of Child Health in June 2026, the Syed Abdullah Shah Institute of Medical Sciences in November 2025 and the Sindh Government Hospital Liaquatabad in February 2024. Those fires killed four health care staffers.
The association demanded the immediate resignation of Pims’ executive administration, called for a third-party safety audit of all public and private health facilities nationwide, and sought Rs100 million (approximately $360,000) in compensation for each affected family.
Provincial Disaster Management Authority officials reported Thursday that 3,354 buildings have already been identified and audited for fire safety across Sindh. The inspections covered 798 buildings in Karachi, 1,287 in Hyderabad, 420 in Larkana, 129 in Mirpurkhas, 418 in Shaheed Benazirabad and 302 in Sukkur.
The Sindh Health Care Commission (SHCC) announced it would conduct surprise inspections without prior notification to assess compliance with safety standards. Inspection teams will physically evaluate fire safety arrangements and verify relevant records.
Additionally, the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI) issued fire safety directives to all hospitals under their control, requiring the installation and maintenance of fire extinguishers, alarm systems, clearly marked emergency exits and visible evacuation plans.
The Pims fire has intensified scrutiny of health care safety protocols across Pakistan, with medical professionals calling for systemic reforms to prevent further loss of life.
