Hospital fires in Pakistan have claimed numerous lives and exposed systemic safety failures, with the latest tragedy occurring at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) in Islamabad, where fourteen infants died in a blaze that swept through the gynaecology ward. This incident, reported on November 12, 2025, underscores a recurring pattern of inadequate fire safety measures in healthcare facilities across the country.
The Pims fire is the deadliest hospital blaze in recent years, but it is not an isolated event. Since 2010, hospital fires have repeatedly struck, often due to short circuits, lax enforcement of building codes, and poor emergency preparedness. The following timeline highlights some of the most significant incidents, demonstrating that lessons remain unlearned.
Timeline: Major Hospital Fire Incidents in Pakistan Since 2010
2010
October 5, 2010 — Services Hospital, Lahore
A fire broke out in three operation theatres at Services Hospital. A two-year-old boy and a man suffered burn injuries, while equipment worth more than Rs30 million was damaged.
November 19, 2010 — Mayo Hospital, Lahore
A short circuit caused a fire in the emergency block’s Intensive Care Unit. Six patients lost consciousness, while several attendants and hospital staff experienced respiratory problems after smoke filled the area.
2012
February 20, 2012 — Civil Hospital, Dadu
A major fire in the dental ward destroyed two surgical units, expensive medical equipment and furniture.
June 7, 2012 — Services Hospital, Lahore
A fire in the paediatrics ward killed four newborns and left 17 others with burn injuries.
2013
June 20, 2013 — Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore
A fire erupted in the angiography laboratory, damaging medical instruments worth thousands of rupees.
July 13, 2013 — Allied Hospital, Faisalabad
A fire broke out in the paediatrics ward and affected two children.
2014
February 10, 2014 — Nishtar Hospital, Multan
A basement fire in the emergency ward filled the facility with smoke, affecting six patients. Emergency services were suspended for around two and a half hours.
2016
July 17, 2016 — Private Hospital, Dadu
A gas cylinder explosion triggered a fire at a private hospital, leaving 20 patients with serious burn injuries.
2017
August 3, 2017 — Allama Iqbal Memorial Teaching Hospital, Sialkot
A massive fire in the hospital’s luggage store forced the evacuation of hundreds of patients, attendants, doctors and paramedics.
2018
June 6, 2018 — Garhi Habibullah Civil Hospital, Mansehra
A major fire destroyed five residential quarters for doctors located on the hospital premises. No casualties were reported.
2019
October 15, 2019 — Mayo Hospital, Lahore
A fire erupted in the hospital’s musafirkhana, creating a stampede-like situation. No casualties were reported.
2020
January 9, 2020 — National Institute of Child Health, Karachi
A newborn girl died after an incubator caught fire at the children’s hospital.
February 7, 2020 — DHQ Hospital, Rawalpindi
A fire in the physiotherapy department destroyed furniture and damaged medical equipment.
May 10, 2020 — Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology
A basement fire caused thick smoke to spread through the building. Patients were shifted to different wards as a precaution.
June 13, 2020 — Services Hospital, Lahore
A fire in the emergency ward’s operation theatre killed a woman and injured eight others, including doctors, paramedics and patients.
2021
March 7, 2021 — Mayo Hospital, Lahore
A fire broke out in the paediatrics ward, forcing hospital authorities to move patients to other wards. No deaths or injuries were reported.
May 23, 2021 — Govt Sardar Begum Memorial Teaching Hospital, Sialkot
A fire in a room at the Covid-19 vaccination centre affected 15 children.
August 6, 2021 — Children’s Hospital, Larkana
A fire disrupted the hospital’s power supply for around six hours. No casualties were reported.
2022
January 17, 2022 — Private Hospital, Karachi
A fire on M.A. Jinnah Road killed a welder and seriously injured a hospital employee.
June 4, 2022 — Children’s Hospital, Lahore
A major fire on the third floor of the outpatient department destroyed medicines reportedly worth millions of rupees.
June 9, 2022 — Services Hospital, Lahore
A fire gutted furniture, official records and other valuables at the Diabetic Management Centre, forcing its closure.
September 5, 2022 — Jinnah Hospital, Lahore
A fire in an operating theatre destroyed medical equipment and other goods. No patients or staff members were injured.
September 23, 2022 — DHQ Hospital, Narowal
A fire in the children’s ward prompted the evacuation of 40 children and five women.
2023
May 27, 2023 — Children’s Hospital, Lahore
A fire in the paediatric nursery killed one newborn and left another with burn injuries.
2024
January 14, 2024 — Shireen Shah Hospital, Peshawar
A fire broke out at the private hospital. No casualties were reported.
February 11, 2024 — Sindh Government Hospital Liaquatabad, Karachi
A fire in the emergency department killed four hospital employees, including two paramedics. Three other employees suffered serious burn injuries.
June 8, 2024 — Sahiwal Teaching Hospital
Eleven infants died after a fire linked to a short circuit in the air-conditioning system broke out in the paediatric medicine ward.
2025
October 18, 2025 — Ziauddin Hospital, Karachi
A fire broke out in the basement of the Clifton hospital. Officials said the timely response prevented major material losses.
November 9, 2025 — Syed Abdullah Shah Institute of Medical Sciences, Sehwan
A fire caused extensive damage to the emergency and dialysis section. No casualties were reported because the affected section was closed at the time.
A recurring safety concern
The incidents recorded over the past 15 years show that hospital fires have repeatedly affected emergency departments, paediatric wards, operating theatres, ICUs, basements and other critical areas. Several incidents resulted in deaths and serious injuries, while others caused major damage to medical equipment, medicines, records and hospital infrastructure.
Source: Dawn News