The federal government on Thursday announced Rs. 5 million in compensation for the families of each infant that died in the fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) a day earlier.
In a statement, the government said it stood equally in the grief and sorrow of the affected families and would provide them every possible support and assistance. Acknowledging that compensation could not replace a human life, it described the payment as an attempt to ease the hardships of the bereaved families.
Early on Wednesday, a fire broke out at the Mother and Child Health ward of PIMS, killing 14 of 15 infants who were present there at the time. Authorities initially blamed the fire on a faulty air conditioner, but uncertainty persists, as an inquiry is ongoing to ascertain the circumstances of the tragedy.
According to Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, an independent investigation committee is preparing an interim inquiry report. He maintained the committee was fully independent and that many things would become clear within a day. He stressed to media that no human life could be compensated, adding the most important thing at this stage was fixing responsibility.
Referring patients
Meanwhile, PIMS has temporarily decided to halt the treatment of serious gynecological cases, referring incoming patients to the Polyclinic and other hospitals in Rawalpindi. According to local media, the policy stems from the damage to the nursery, which has reduced available space at the facility.