A fire broke out on the third floor of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, a major state-run hospital and one of the largest in Islamabad. The blaze occurred in the newborn nursery of the Mother and Child Health Ward, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 to 15 infants. Only one child was rescued from the nursery.
Reports suggest the fire may have been triggered by a fault in the air conditioning systems, though some authorities have stated that the cause is yet to be determined. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for an immediate investigation into the tragedy.
The incident occurs against a backdrop of poor enforcement of building safety regulations in Pakistan, which has been blamed for high death tolls in fires.