Sardar Tahir Mehmood
ISLAMABAD ( WNAM REPORT ): President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Sardar Tahir Mehmood has expressed profound grief over the tragic fire at the nursery of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), resulting in the deaths of 14 newborn babies, describing it as a deeply heartbreaking tragedy and a serious wake-up call regarding fire safety and emergency preparedness in hospitals.
In a statement issued here on Wednesday, he said the entire business community of Islamabad stood with the bereaved families in their hour of immense grief, adding that the loss of innocent newborn lives was an irreparable national tragedy. “These families have suffered a loss that can never be compensated. They deserve complete information, immediate support and justice,” he said.
Sardar Tahir Mehmood said the deaths of innocent children could not simply be dismissed as an unfortunate accident, as the tragedy raised serious questions about the safety and administrative arrangements at one of the capital’s major public hospitals. He demanded an immediate, transparent and impartial high-level inquiry to establish the causes of the fire and fix responsibility, stressing that those found negligent must face strict legal action.
He said the investigation must not be confined to a routine committee or paperwork exercise, and called upon the Federal Minister for Health to accept moral responsibility and resign. He added that the inquiry report should be completed within a clearly defined timeframe and made public so that the affected families and the nation could know the truth.
The ICCI President paid tribute to the courageous woman who risked her own life to save a baby during the fire, saying her bravery deserved national recognition. He urged the government to confer upon her a national honour and special reward for her extraordinary courage and humanity.
He also demanded an immediate, comprehensive fire-safety audit of all public and private hospitals, particularly nurseries, neonatal units and intensive-care departments. He said hospitals must have functional fire alarms, clearly marked emergency exits, effective firefighting systems, trained staff and regular emergency drills, with strict enforcement of safety standards.
“The foremost responsibility of the state is to protect human life, particularly the lives of innocent children who cannot protect themselves. There can be no compromise on this responsibility,” Sardar Tahir Mehmood said, urging the government to provide immediate assistance and complete information to the bereaved families and implement concrete reforms.
