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Recognition for Bravery in PIMS Tragedy
A Chinese company has awarded Rs1 million to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) nurse Razia Noreen in recognition of her bravery in rescuing a newborn during the deadly fire at the hospital’s neonatal nursery that killed 14 babies last month .
Chinese company chairperson Yan Jin presented Noreen with a cheque and praised her courage in risking her own life to save the infant. Yan Jin said saving one life was equivalent to saving all humanity, adding that Noreen demonstrated exceptional courage and a strong sense of duty in a dangerous situation .
Previous Government Recognition
The award comes a week after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presented Noreen with a Rs10 million cheque and announced that she would receive the Tamgha-i-Khidmat on March 23 next year . The government had earlier approved the cash award and civil honour after an inquiry identified Noreen as the nurse who evacuated the only surviving baby while risking her own life .
The PIMS Fire and Noreen’s Rescue
The fire broke out on August 26 at the neonatal ward of the Mother and Child Hospital at PIMS. There were 15 newborns in the nursery when the fire broke out. Fourteen infants died, while Noreen managed to rescue the sole surviving baby .
Security footage showed Noreen entering the smoke-filled nursery and emerging seconds later carrying a baby to safety. She subsequently attempted to return to the nursery but was unable to do so because of the intense fire and smoke .
Inquiry Findings and Accountability
An inquiry into the incident identified serious institutional, administrative, and fire-safety shortcomings at PIMS. It recommended action against eight officials and said criminal proceedings should be initiated against those responsible. The inquiry also found inadequate fire-safety, evacuation, and emergency-response arrangements at the facility .
The Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights has directed authorities to register an FIR over the PIMS nursery fire, expressing concern that no FIR had been registered despite the prime minister’s earlier directions for action . The tragedy has prompted wider scrutiny of fire safety in Islamabad, with the CDA conducting fire-safety drills at government buildings and a petition filed in the Islamabad High Court challenging the alleged non-implementation of fire-safety laws .
