The Islamabad Capital Territory administration has formed a fact-finding committee to investigate the deadly fire that broke out on August 26 in the Nursery of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Ward at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad.
At least 14 newborn died during the incident which took place on Wednesday morning.
According to a notification issued by the Office of the District Magistrate, the committee will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, determine the factors that caused the fire and examine what contributed to its spread.
The committee will be headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), ICT, who will serve as its convener. Its members include the Director General of Capital Emergency Services, CDA; Superintendent of Police (City), Islamabad; Assistant Commissioner (Industrial Area), Islamabad; Director General E&M, CDA; and representatives of IESCO and PIMS. The notification also allows for the inclusion of any other co-opted member.
The committee has been assigned several terms of reference. It will determine the exact cause of the fire and assess whether adequate and functional fire-safety arrangements were in place at the facility.
It will also review the response time and effectiveness of rescue and firefighting operations following the outbreak.
The committee has additionally been directed to examine any other matter it considers relevant to the incident.
Under the notification, the committee is required to submit its report within 24 hours.
The fact-finding exercise is intended to establish the circumstances of the fire and identify any factors that may have contributed to its outbreak and subsequent spread.
