Grieving families of newborns killed in a fire at Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) have demanded DNA tests to confirm the identities of the victims.
The blaze broke out around 6:45 a.m. on 26 August 2026 in the nursery of the Mother and Child Health ward. Fifteen infants were present; fourteen died from burns, smoke and oxygen-related injuries. Only one baby survived.
Parents allege serious failures. They claim no staff was present in the nursery when the fire started, that the NICU door was locked, and that fire and rescue teams arrived late, some said after one-and-a-half to three hours.
Families say they tried to save the babies themselves. Many bodies were badly burned, leaving parents unsure of identification. Some reported they were not shown the infants’ clothes or given clear proof of identity before the bodies were handed over.
Initial reports linked the fire to an air-conditioner compressor explosion or short circuit, with high oxygen levels helping the flames spread quickly. Later inquiries questioned this account. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered a high-level investigation and suspended the federal health secretary.
Families continue to call for full accountability and reliable DNA confirmation so they can bury their children with certainty.
