Ammon News - At least 15 infants were killed when a fire broke out ​at a state-run hospital in Pakistan's capital Islamabad, ‌triggered by a fault in air conditioning systems, local broadcaster Geo TV reported on Wednesday.

The blaze started around 7 ​a.m. (0200 GMT) at the Pakistan Institute of ​Medical Sciences (PIMS), on the third floor of ⁠the hospital's mother and child health ward, the ​broadcaster said.

The incident is among the deadliest hospital fires ​in recent years in the country, where government healthcare is subsidised but facilities are under-resourced and overburdened while watchdogs have ​frequently criticised state-run facilities as mismanaged.

There were 16 ​newborns in the ward when the fire broke out, one ‌of ⁠whom was rescued, Geo reported.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to conduct an immediate investigation, his office said.

"Those responsible should be identified, and the ​strictest action should ​be taken," ⁠Sharif's office said in a statement.

The ward was cordoned off and ambulances were ​seen outside the hospital building, according ​to ⁠a Reuters witness.

PIMS, centrally located in Islamabad where former Prime Minister Imran Khan was briefly treated last week, is ⁠one ​of the main public hospitals ​of the city.


Reuters