At least 14 newborns killed in Pakistan nursery hospital fire

At least 14 newborns died following a fire in the neonatal ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad. According to Fox News, citing hospital and rescue officials, the blaze broke out around 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday after an air conditioning unit compressor exploded. Only one infant was rescued by medical staff. Hospital spokesperson Dr. Aneeza Jalil stated that the bodies of six infants have been released to their families, with the remainder to follow. Footage from the scene showed grieving families outside the hospital. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the incident as an irreparable loss and ordered an immediate investigation. Following the tragedy, Sharif removed Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri, the country's highest civil servant in the sector, from office. President Asif Ali Zardari also offered his condolences to the affected families.