PIMS Tragedy: Officials Responsible for Negligence to Face Criminal Proceedings, Says Tariq
ISLAMABAD, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 31st Aug, 2026)
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, on Monday stated that those accountable for negligence in the PIMS tragedy would face criminal proceedings. He emphasized that the government had adopted a zero-tolerance policy regarding the deaths of 14 newborn babies.
While addressing the media at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Dr. Tariq revealed that actions have already been taken against eight doctors and administrators based on the initial inquiry report. He clarified that officials and medical professionals found negligent, including the Executive Director, doctors on duty, department heads, and other administrative staff, have been removed from their positions.
The minister explained that the inquiry committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is still in the process of conducting its proceedings. Instead of limiting the investigation to the Gynaecology Department, the committee is now reviewing the entire PIMS hospital and all its departments.
Dr. Tariq expressed that the final inquiry report could potentially identify more individuals responsible for the negligence leading to this tragedy. He vowed that any further evidence of negligence would result in severe punishment for those involved.
"While punishment cannot bring back the lost lives, it is essential to hold accountable those responsible to ensure such incidents don’t recur," Dr. Tariq emphasized. His goal is to prevent similar tragedies from affecting families across
Pakistan
.
The minister highlighted that PIMS, established in 1985, had never witnessed a disaster of this magnitude before. He noted the hospital’s wide service area, extending from
Peshawar
to Jhelum and beyond, including the Potohar region and
Azad Kashmir
.
Dr. Tariq assured that safety arrangements at PIMS are being improved and any identified shortcomings will be addressed. A new Executive Director has already been appointed to lead the hospital. He emphasized direct monitoring by the Ministry of Health and the Prime Minister to ensure proper safety measures are implemented.
The minister also promised to rectify any other department-related issues within PIMS, ensuring such tragedies remain a distant memory.
