A tragic fire broke out in the nursery ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of 14 newborns. Officials and reports indicate the fire was sparked by an explosion in an air conditioning unit within the mother and child ward. Out of the 15 infants present in the nursery at the time of the incident, only one was successfully rescued.

The aftermath of the fire was described as chaotic, with witnesses reporting intense smoke and broken glass as parents gathered outside the facility. While the immediate cause is attributed to the air conditioning unit, the incident has drawn attention to the broader state of Pakistan's healthcare system. France24 reports that the facility is a state-run hospital, noting that such institutions in the country are frequently criticized for being under-resourced, overburdened, and mismanaged. The Prime Minister of Pakistan acknowledged the tragedy, and the health minister confirmed the blast occurred within the nursery ward. The Washington Examiner noted that rescue workers were observed using ladders to access the scene during the emergency response.