PIMS Hospital in Islamabad was discovered to have been operating without a valid licence from the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority for a continuous period of two years, a fact that emerged during a Senate Standing Committee hearing on National Health Services after a devastating fire in its neonatal nursery claimed the lives of 14 newborn infants.

The committee was briefed that the hospital’s licence had expired in early 2024 and was never renewed, yet the facility continued to admit patients and provide critical care services. Lawmakers questioned senior officials from the Ministry of National Health Services, the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority and PIMS management about how such a regulatory breach could go unchecked for so long.

Committee members expressed outrage that a premier public hospital, which serves a large segment of the capital’s population and referrals from across the country, was allowed to function outside the legal framework. They demanded an immediate audit of all public hospitals to verify licensing status and called for punitive action against any officials found negligent in their supervisory duties.

Health authorities acknowledged the lapse, stating that administrative delays and a backlog of licence renewals contributed to the oversight. They pledged to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances that led to the fire, including the hospital’s safety protocols, infrastructure compliance and emergency response mechanisms.

The tragedy has reignited a nationwide conversation about hospital safety standards, especially in neonatal and intensive care units, where lapses can have fatal consequences. Advocacy groups have urged the federal government to enact stricter monitoring mechanisms, regular unannounced inspections, and a transparent public registry of licensed health facilities.

In response, the Ministry announced the formation of a high‑level task force to review licensing procedures and enforce stricter compliance across both public and private health institutions. The task force will also recommend legislative amendments to give the regulatory authority greater enforcement powers and to ensure that any future licensing violations are detected and rectified before they can endanger patients.