Fake Fire Extinguishers Exposed at PIMS After Newborn Tragedy

Following the deaths of 14 newborn babies in a fire at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), hospital authorities conducted a fire safety drill in collaboration with the fire brigade. The exercise, however, revealed a shocking failure: the fire extinguishers contained substandard or fake gas.

Doctors, nurses and other staff emptied several cylinders by spraying them, yet even small, deliberately lit fires could not be extinguished. Officials noted that the gas supplied would be useless in a real emergency.

The incident has prompted calls for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to order an investigation into the fire brigade and the contractors supplying defective fire-suppression gas.