ISLAMABAD, September 13: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President and former Punjab chief minister Hamza Shehbaz visited the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Sunday to express condolences and solidarity with families affected by the recent hospital fire.
During the visit, Hamza Shehbaz met the mother of a victim and conveyed his sympathies over the loss of children in the tragedy.
“May Allah Almighty grant the children who have left this world the highest place in Jannat-ul-Firdous,” he said.
He said no words or expression of sympathy could lessen the grief of parents who had lost their children, adding that the tragedy had deeply affected people across the country.
“This is a wound that the entire nation has felt,” Hamza Shehbaz said. “May Allah restore happiness to the grieving families and give them the strength to bear this immense loss.”
Hamza Shehbaz also visited the nursery ward affected by the fire, where PIMS Executive Director and senior doctors briefed him on the incident, the hospital’s response and the relief measures taken in its aftermath.
Speaking to the media after the visit, the former Punjab chief minister said the entire nation was saddened by the incident.
“There are no words that can truly reduce the pain of the affected families,” he said. “I came here to share their grief, offer condolences and pray for them.”
Hamza Shehbaz stressed the need for measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, saying institutions and authorities must learn from such tragedies and strengthen safety mechanisms.
“Our effort must be to ensure that such incidents are not repeated,” he said, adding that society as a whole must recognise its responsibility in protecting lives and improving safety standards.
The PIMS fire has prompted renewed concerns over hospital safety and emergency preparedness, particularly in sensitive wards where newborns and critically ill patients are treated.