On the directives of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, a notification has been issued to form a high-level inquiry committee to probe the fire incident at PIMS.

Retired Federal Secretary Shahid Khan has been appointed chairman of the inquiry committee, while Major General Retired Dr. Khursheed Uttra, Dr. Barrister Nabeel Ahmed Awan and Deputy Commissioner Islamabad will serve as its members.

The notification also outlines the committee’s terms of reference.

The committee will determine the immediate cause of the fire and establish a timeline of the incident.

It will review the emergency response and rescue operations carried out by hospital staff and relevant agencies, including the fire brigade and Rescue 1122.

The committee will also assess the implementation of emergency SOPs for the transfer of newborns, particularly the evacuation of high-risk newborns.

The committee will conduct a detailed review of the fire safety infrastructure at PIMS and compliance with safety regulations.

It will determine the responsibility and negligence, if any, of individuals involved in the incident and identify those responsible.

The committee will recommend necessary reforms for PIMS’s administrative system to help prevent such kind of incidents in the future.

The inquiry committee will submit an interim report to the Prime Minister within 48 hours, containing recommendations for immediate action.

It will submit a comprehensive report within five days, containing the findings of the complete investigation and actionable recommendations.

The Ministry of National Health Services has been directed to immediately notify the inquiry committee and provide it with the necessary assistance.