Responsible for PIMS Tragedy Not To Be Spared: Mustafa Kamal
ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Aug, 2026) Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Syed Mustafa Kamal on Friday assured the Senate that anyone found responsible for the PIMS tragedy would not be spared, regardless of their position or influence.
"No one will be spared, no matter how powerful, and every person found responsible will face accountability," he assured the House while responding to an adjournment motion.
The minister backed a parliamentary inquiry to establish accountability and help prevent a recurrence of the incident, stressing that no family should have to lose a child in such circumstances again. He said there could be no explanation or justification for the loss of innocent lives and described the 14 children who lost their lives as martyrs.
Mustafa Kamal stated that an inquiry committee constituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was expected to submit its report within 24 hours. He urged senators to examine the report once received, suggesting further investigation if the House found any issue overlooked or dissatisfied with its findings.
The minister gave a categorical assurance that neither the Prime Minister nor the government intended to protect anyone. Kamal also supported the proposal for a parliamentary committee, stating the government would extend full cooperation. He promised to provide all relevant information and make officials available before the committee so lawmakers could question them.
However, he urged parliament not to restrict its examination merely to one incident or one hospital. Instead, Kamal proposed that the PIMS tragedy should serve as a basis for identifying deep-rooted weaknesses in Pakistan's healthcare system and developing a strategy to save future children from preventable deaths.
He shared statistics revealing that around 400,000 children between the ages of one and five die annually in Pakistan, many from causes where their lives could have been saved. This amounts to approximately 1,300 child deaths every day. Additionally, he noted that around 11,000 mothers die annually from pregnancy-related causes.
The minister acknowledged serious deficiencies in the healthcare system but urged senators to use this tragedy as an opportunity to examine resources, hospital management, administrative practices, and implementation mechanisms. He suggested formulating a practical way forward, allowing the committee to involve experts, summon officials, examine records, and investigate wider deficiencies rather than just completing a report for a deadline.
Meanwhile, Senator Sherry Rehman moved a motion for setting up an independent inquiry commission into the PIMS tragedy...