Saudi Arabia has joined a growing list of nations offering condolences to Pakistan following the tragic PIMS hospital fire in Islamabad, which claimed the lives of at least 14 newborn babies. Iran, Turkey, and several other countries have also sent messages of sympathy and support in the wake of the disaster.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry issued a statement extending what it called sincere condolences to the victims’ families as well as to Pakistan’s government and citizens. The ministry affirmed that the Kingdom stood in solidarity with Pakistan during this period of grief, wishing the country continued security and safety going forward.
The fire broke out in the Mother and Child Health ward at PIMS, prompting Pakistani authorities to launch a formal investigation and promise accountability for those responsible. Iran and Syria were among the other nations that reached out, with their respective foreign ministries expressing sympathy for the bereaved families and solidarity with the Pakistani government.
World Mourns Following the PIMS Hospital Fire
As news of the tragedy spread, condolence messages arrived from governments around the globe. The United Kingdom’s British High Commission called the incident heartbreaking, offering its deepest condolences to the grieving parents. Turkey’s embassy described itself as deeply saddened, extending heartfelt sympathies to the families affected.
France labeled the event deeply distressing and sent its condolences to those impacted, while Spain’s embassy said its thoughts remained with everyone touched by the tragedy. China’s embassy conveyed profound sorrow over the loss of the infants, and Nigeria expressed solidarity with the Pakistani people, particularly the families directly affected.
Syria offered condolences along with prayers for strength, and Afghanistan’s embassy in Islamabad shared its sorrow with the grieving families. Despite the differences in language and geography, the messages carried a common sentiment: hope that the parents would find the strength to endure such an irreplaceable loss.
How the PIMS Hospital Fire Started
According to Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, the blaze ignited around 7 a.m. on the third floor of the hospital’s Mother and Child Health ward after an air conditioner exploded. He noted that the presence of oxygen supplies in the ward likely accelerated the fire’s spread.
The incident ranks among the deadliest hospital fires in Pakistan in recent memory, occurring in a healthcare system where government facilities are subsidized but frequently under-resourced and stretched thin. Oversight bodies have long raised concerns about mismanagement within state-run hospitals.
Television broadcasts showed a charred, gutted ward littered with damaged equipment, with smoke still visible hours later. A Reuters witness confirmed that the ward had since been sealed off from the public.
Families Demand Answers After PIMS Hospital Fire
Grieving relatives gathered outside the hospital as footage captured their anguish. Javeria, who lost her newborn in the fire, said the gynecology ward had no doctor or nurse present at the time. She said the children’s bodies were removed in boxes, and mothers were never given the chance to see them one last time. “It is not God’s will,” she said. “I don’t accept it.”
Kamal pushed back against claims that no medical staff had been on duty during the fire. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an investigation into the incident and later suspended the health secretary from his post.
Mudasir, another parent who lost a child in the blaze, said the ward lacked basic fire safety measures and proper emergency exits. He said all doors were shut except one, which had been opened only to allow parents in to see their children. Both Javeria and Mudasir shared only their first names with reporters.
PIMS, which briefly treated former Prime Minister and PTI founder Imran Khan for a medical checkup last week, is centrally located in Islamabad and serves as one of the city’s primary public hospitals, catering to a population of roughly 1.1 million people.