Serious Questions Raised Over Fire Safety Arrangements at NICH Karachi

KARACHI: Serious questions have been raised over fire safety arrangements at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH), with sources revealing that several fire extinguishers at the hospital are faulty and have not been tested or monitored for a long period.

Sources said the hospital also lacks an effective fire safety alarm system. Doctors, nurses and other staff members have reportedly not received fire safety drills or training during the past 10 years.

The country’s largest government children’s hospital has also been found to have emergency exits that remain closed, raising concerns about the ability to evacuate patients and staff in the event of a fire.

NICH has witnessed two major fire incidents during the past six years. In January 2020, a newborn baby died after a fire broke out in an incubator. More recently, on June 30, 2026, a fire erupted in the children’s medical ward on the third floor of the hospital.

Doctors and hospital staff safely rescued the children, while the fire brigade brought the blaze under control. No casualties were reported in the June 30 incident.

However, half of the children’s ward infrastructure was destroyed in the fire. Nearly two months after the incident, half of the ward remains closed, severely affecting the admission of patients.

NICH Director Professor Nasir said the hospital’s emergency exit doors had been closed for security reasons because of repeated theft incidents in the past. He said the keys to the doors were available with the hospital administration and had also been provided to relevant staff members.

Professor Nasir said that the administration would be responsible if any untoward incident occurred. He acknowledged that fire extinguishers were available at the hospital but said the staff had not received firefighting training.

He added that the hospital administration was holding meetings to address the issue and improve fire safety arrangements.