A devastating fire that tore through a neonatal nursery at Pakistan’s leading public hospital in Islamabad last week has left the nation in mourning, while also shining a light on the extraordinary courage of a veteran nurse who risked her life to save one infant from the blaze.
The fire erupted on the third floor of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), the country’s flagship federal government hospital, claiming the lives of 14 newborns being cared for in the unit. Only one baby survived the incident, thanks to the quick action of 50-something nurse Razia Noreen. A 51-second widely circulated CCTV clip captured Noreen sprinting into the smoke-filled, burning nursery just moments after the fire broke out, emerging seconds later with the tiny infant safely in her arms. She attempted to rush back inside to rescue the remaining babies, but was forced back by intense, rapidly spreading flames and thick toxic smoke that made reentry impossible.
In an emotional interview with Pakistani private broadcaster Samaa TV on Sunday, a tearful Noreen said she had only done what her job demanded of her. “I did not do it for a reward. I love children, and caring for them is my passion,” she explained, adding that the speed of the blaze left no time for additional rescues. “The fire spread through the nursery within two minutes.” The grief of failing to save the other 14 infants has weighed heavily on Noreen, who told reporters the tragedy haunts her still. “I cannot sleep. Those babies do not let me sleep,” she said.
Following an official inquiry ordered by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the government confirmed Noreen will receive Sitara-i-Khidmat—translated as the Star of Service—one of Pakistan’s most prestigious civilian honors, awarded to individuals who demonstrate extraordinary public service or national contribution. Along with the award, she will receive a cash prize of approximately 10 million Pakistani rupees, equal to around $36,000. The announcement of the award has drawn overwhelming public praise across social media platforms in Pakistan, with thousands of users commending Noreen’s bravery and compassion.
Prime Minister Sharif echoed that public praise, saying Noreen’s actions showed exceptional courage and unwavering devotion to her duty. The official inquiry’s findings aligned with witness and CCTV accounts, confirming Noreen carried the surviving newborn out to safety just eight seconds after entering the nursery, and that the entire unit was consumed by catastrophic fire within roughly two minutes of ignition. There were 15 newborns in the unit at the time the fire broke out.
In the wake of the tragedy, eight senior hospital officials have already been suspended from their posts, with formal disciplinary proceedings launched against all eight. Sharif has also ordered criminal investigations to proceed against any individuals found ultimately responsible for safety failures that contributed to the deaths. As of this report, investigators have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the fire.
The deadly incident has spurred national action, with regulators announcing comprehensive fire safety audits and reviews for all hospitals and healthcare facilities across Pakistan. This tragedy marks one of the deadliest incidents involving children in Pakistan in recent months. Just this past June, 14 schoolchildren lost their lives in the eastern city of Lahore when the roof of an under-construction tutoring center collapsed onto them.