Spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry Esmaeil Baqaei offered condolences to the families of those killed in the fire at the maternity ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), as well as to the government and people of neighboring Pakistan.
He prayed for patience and endurance for the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery and good health.
A fire broke out on the third floor of the Mother and Child Health Ward at Islamabad’s premier public hospital Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on Wednesday, killing 14 infants, Pakistan authorities said, blaming a faulty air conditioner for the blaze.
Witnesses described chaotic and harrowing scenes, including intense smoke and broken glass, a slow response from emergency services and guards reportedly preventing them from leaving the ward.
Fires in large buildings are frequent in Pakistan, often due to poor safety laws and building codes as well as lax enforcement.
In January more than 65 people were killed in a shopping center fire in the port city of Karachi.
At least 11 people were killed in another shopping mall fire in Karachi in 2023.