KARACHI: President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Muhammad Rehan Hanif has expressed profound grief and sorrow over the devastating fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Islamabad, which claimed the lives of 14 newborn babies, terming it an unbearable national tragedy.
Extending heartfelt condolences to the bereaved parents and their families, President KCCI prayed that may Allah, the Almighty grant the departed infants the highest place in Jannat-ul-Firdous and give their parents the strength and patience to endure this irreparable loss.
“The death of newborn babies at one of the country’s premier public hospitals is a tragedy beyond words. These innocent lives were entrusted to an institution where the highest standards of protection and care were expected. The incident has; therefore, raised extremely serious questions about fire prevention, electrical safety, emergency preparedness and evacuation arrangements at healthcare facilities.”
Rehan Hanif acknowledged the federal government’s announcement of Rs5 million for each bereaved family as a positive initial step but urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to enhance the compensation to Rs10 million for every family that lost a newborn in the PIMS tragedy.
He recalled that following the Gul Plaza inferno in Karachi, the Government of Sindh responded promptly and announced compensation of Rs10 million for each family that lost a loved one. “Although no amount of financial assistance can restore a precious life or lessen the lifelong grief of parents, the compensation represents the State’s solidarity, responsibility and commitment to supporting the affected families in their darkest hour.”
Referring to KCCI’s experience following the Gul Plaza tragedy, Rehan Hanif said the Chamber had immediately mobilised its institutional resources, constituted a dedicated committee, coordinated with the Sindh government and affected traders, and facilitated transparent assessment, verification, compensation and rehabilitation efforts.
President KCCI also urged the federal and provincial governments to immediately undertake comprehensive fire, electrical and emergency-safety audits of all public and private hospitals, particularly neonatal intensive-care units, maternity wards, intensive-care units and other areas where patients are unable to evacuate themselves.
He emphasised that hospitals must have fully functional fire alarms, smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, extinguishers, hydrants, clearly marked and unobstructed emergency exits, safe electrical installations, properly maintained oxygen systems and trained emergency-response teams. Regular evacuation drills and independent inspections must also be made mandatory, with strict action against institutions failing to comply with prescribed safety standards.
“Safety protocols must not remain confined to files, certificates or inspection reports. They must be fully implemented, regularly tested and visibly operational. A hospital must be the safest place for a patient—not a place where preventable negligence can turn into an irreversible catastrophe”, Rehan Hanif said.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026