Report: Ahmed Shamas -ur-Rehman/ANI
ISLAMABAD: Following the recent fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), it has emerged that another fire incident had occurred at the hospital’s Nursing Hostel nearly 50 days earlier, raising serious questions over fire safety arrangements and the implementation of recommendations made by an earlier inquiry committee.
According to an official document, a fire broke out at the reception of the PIMS Nursing Hostel at around 3 a.m. on July 6. As many as 78 female students residing in the hostel remained safe, and no one was injured in the incident. Three sofas placed in the reception area were reportedly destroyed in the fire.
The document states that the exact cause of the fire could not be established due to the absence of electrical and forensic reports. The inquiry committee recommended departmental action against the hostel warden and security staff.
The inquiry report also highlighted major deficiencies in the hostel’s fire-safety arrangements, stating that there were no CCTV cameras, fire alarms or emergency response plans in place.
The committee had further recommended the suspension of certain employees and other corrective measures. However, according to the document, the recommendations were not implemented.
Meanwhile, Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has said that he was not aware of the July 6 fire incident at the PIMS Nursing Hostel.
Questions Over PIMS Administration
The latest developments have also brought renewed attention to the administrative responsibilities of PIMS Executive Director Professor Dr. Rana Imran Sikandar and the hospital’s overall safety oversight.
Professor Dr. Rana Imran Sikandar was appointed permanent Executive Director of PIMS in July 2025, following a legal controversy over eligibility, seniority and the criteria for appointment to the Grade-21 position. His appointment came after the Supreme Court clarified that clinical and faculty members could also be appointed to head hospitals.
His appointment had earlier been challenged by some senior doctors and faculty members of PIMS. Dr Ayesha Isani and Dr Mutahir Shah approached the Islamabad High Court over issues related to seniority and merit, while senior doctor Dr Iqbal Durrani also approached the Federal Service Tribunal and the High Court, arguing that a major institution such as PIMS should be headed by an officer from the management cadre.
Objections were also raised regarding the Central Selection Board’s assessment of certain aspects of Dr Rana Imran Sikandar’s service record, including ACRs written during his tenure as Head of the Department of Anaesthesia.
The matter eventually reached the Supreme Court, which paved the way for the permanent appointment of Dr Rana Imran Sikandar as PIMS Executive Director.
The latest fire incidents, however, have raised questions about whether previously identified safety deficiencies were adequately addressed by the hospital administration.
The July inquiry had reportedly identified the absence of essential safety mechanisms, including CCTV cameras, fire alarms and an emergency response plan. The alleged failure to implement those recommendations now warrants a thorough examination, particularly in the wake of the subsequent tragic fire incident at PIMS.
A comprehensive and independent inquiry is needed to determine whether timely implementation of the earlier recommendations could have prevented or reduced the risks associated with the latest tragedy, and to establish responsibility for any administrative or safety lapses
