ISLAMABAD: Fourteen infants died after a fire broke out in the gynaecology ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), officials said on Wednesday.
The nursery at the Mother and Child Health Care Centre (MCH) housed 16 newborns at the time of the incident, of whom only one was rescued.
The tragedy has put renewed focus on the facilities and resources available at one of Islamabad’s main public hospitals. Pims is a major government healthcare facility serving the capital, where treatment is subsidised and demand for public healthcare remains high.
Budget documents show that Rs1.069 billion has been allocated for Pims’ MCH for the financial year 2026-27, up from Rs855.6 million allocated in the previous financial year.
The allocation includes Rs356.9 million for employees’ salaries, while Rs332.7 million has been earmarked for employees’ allowances.
Of the salary allocation, Rs200 million is allocated for officers’ salaries and Rs156.5 million for other staff.
The MCH Centre has been allocated Rs270 million for operating expenses during the current financial year.
The budget also includes Rs11 million for repair and maintenance, while Rs7 million has been allocated for machinery and equipment and Rs4 million for the building and structure.
The centre has been allocated Rs8.5 million for scholarships, while Rs6 million has been set aside for stores, stock, plant and machinery.
A further Rs6 million has been allocated for pensions of retired employees.
