A fire broke out in an air‑conditioning unit on the third floor of the maternal and child unit at PIMS hospital in Islamabad early Wednesday.

The blaze killed 14 infants and left one infant in critical condition, according to hospital officials.

PIMS is one of the largest hospitals in the capital and has 156 beds in its maternal and child health unit.

The country has experienced several major fires in recent years, with officials linking many incidents to inadequate safety regulations and enforcement.

At about 6:30 am, witnesses reported hearing a shout and seeing smoke before the fire spread.

Carrie Davies and Usman Zahid, who were with a newborn at the time, fled the ward after the smoke appeared.

Hivsa Walid, a relative of a patient, described escaping down the stairs with the baby.

Khurram Mehmood told AFP that rescue workers arrived after a prolonged wait and that his three‑day‑old daughter died.

Jaweria, mother of another victim, said the ward door was locked and that she waited two hours before police arrived.

Abdul Ghafoor said thick black smoke filled the ward and that patients were trapped.

Rescue teams reached the scene after nearly two hours, despite an emergency call being made promptly.

Sohail Ashraf, Islamabad’s chief commissioner, said rescue teams responded immediately after the call.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow and ordered an immediate investigation, also suspending Federal Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri.

The statement from his office called the loss of children irreparable.

Investigators are looking into the cause of the fire and whether safety procedures were followed.