PIMS fire inquiry committee recommends removal of 10 officers

ISLAMABAD: In its preliminary inquiry report on the tragic fire that killed 14 newborns at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), the committee of inquiry recommended the dismissal of 10 officials, including PIMS Executive Director Prof Dr Rana Imran Sikandar, from their positions, sources reported.

The report was submitted to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif by the chairman of the inquiry committee, former interior secretary Shahid Khan.

Sources told that the inquiry committee has found out the reasons behind the tragic PIMS fire and people responsible for such a disaster.

As per the report of the inquiry committee, 10 officers and relevant staff members have been recommended to be removed from their positions by the committee of inquiry, sources reported.

Among the five senior PIMS officials recommended for removal from their position include Deputy Executive Director (Medical-IH) Dr Mutahir Shah and Joint Executive Director Dr Muhammad Iqbal Durrani.

Furthermore, the committee has recommended the removal of Deputy Executive Director (Non-Medical) Dr. Aneza Jalil and Hassan Durrani from their respective positions.

Sources said that the committee has held the officials and relevant staff negligent and derelict of their duty.

The report also includes recommendations sent by the incumbent acting Secretary, National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination Division, Capt. (Retd.) Muhammad Mahmood, sources reported.

The findings of the committee show that the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences was working in a very unprofessional way and without any proper administrative system.

The committee has recommended that the officers recommended for dismissal should be replaced by professionally qualified people.

It has also recommended the constitution of the Governing Board for PIMS.