Lessons from the PIMS Fire: Public Healthcare in Pakistan

The recent fire at PIMS Hospital in Islamabad, which claimed the lives of several infants, has raised painful questions about the safety, preparedness and functioning of Pakistan’s public healthcare system. Hospitals are meant to be places of care and protection, yet the tragedy at PIMS has highlighted concerns about fire safety, emergency preparedness, evacuation procedures, infrastructure and institutional accountability. More importantly, it raises a larger question: was this simply an unfortunate incident, or does it point to deeper weaknesses within our public healthcare system? This conversation will look beyond the immediate tragedy to examine what happened, what systems may have failed, and what lessons can be drawn for the future. How prepared are our public hospitals for emergencies? Are safety protocols properly implemented and regularly tested? Who is responsible when systems fail? And what reforms are needed to ensure that hospitals are safer for patients, families and healthcare workers? ● About the Panelists: » Riaz Hussain Bhutto (Author, Journalist and Socio-Political Analyst) » Dr. Mohammad Tariq (Assistant Professor and Pediatrician at PIMS; Leader, Young Doctors Association) » Shafique Chaudhry (Executive Director, Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights) » Shazia Naureen (Advocate High Court, Human Rights Activist) » William Pervaiz (Convener, Islamabad Citizens’ Network) » Dr. Bashir H. Shah (Psychologist and Human Rights Activist — Moderator)