August 28, 2026
Islamabad: Following the tragic fire incident in the children’s intensive care unit (ICU) of PIMS Hospital, Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal has submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. However, a final decision is expected to be taken after the investigative and forensic reports are completed.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry confirmed the development, saying that Mustafa Kamal had presented himself for accountability. According to him, the prime minister has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident, and the government does not want to take any final action against any individual before the investigation report is received.
Mustafa Kamal Takes Strong Position on the Health System
Addressing the National Assembly, Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal spoke candidly about the country’s healthcare system and said that the problem cannot be solved simply by removing one minister or official.
Mustafa Kamal said:
“Everyone says, remove their thief and appoint my thief instead. This system has become rotten. If I remove a bad person, where am I supposed to find a good one? You have to choose between two bad options — whether to appoint the less bad one or the more bad one.”
Referring to child mortality, he said the situation in the country was extremely alarming and that a large number of children were losing their lives every day.
The health minister said, “By the time this evening ends, 1,300 children will have died,” highlighting the seriousness of the country’s child mortality situation.
14 Newborns Die in PIMS Fire
Fourteen newborn babies were killed in the fire that broke out in the children’s ICU at PIMS Hospital. According to initial reports, the fire spread rapidly, while most of the babies reportedly died due to suffocation caused by smoke.
Following the incident, forensic experts and relevant authorities launched investigations. Various aspects, including the hospital’s safety arrangements, emergency exit routes and the availability of staff, are being examined.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also took notice of the incident and ordered a comprehensive investigation.
Concern Over Child and Maternal Mortality
Speaking in the National Assembly, Mustafa Kamal said that around 400,000 children in Pakistan die every year between the ages of one and five, while approximately 1,300 children die every day.
He said a significant number of these deaths could be prevented through better healthcare facilities, timely treatment and effective medical interventions.
The health minister also expressed concern over maternal mortality, saying that around 11,000 women in Pakistan die every year during pregnancy or due to pregnancy-related complications.
