Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhary has said that initial reports suggest the fire at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of PIMS Hospital was caused by a short circuit.

Speaking to the media during his visit to PIMS, he said the fire spread quickly due to the presence of gas cylinders, gas lines and plastic instruments.

The Minister confirmed that fourteen newborn babies lost their lives in the incident, describing it as a major tragedy.