Third fire at Sahiwal Teaching Hospital children’s ward; inquiry committee given 48 hours

SAHIWAL: Punjab Secretary for Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Azmat Mehmood has formed an inquiry committee to investigate the third fire at the children’s ward of Sahiwal Teaching Hospital.

Additional Secretary Finance Syed Sajid Tirmizi will be the convener of the committee. A representative of the Deputy Commissioner Sahiwal and representatives of the energy sector will also be among its members. Biomedical engineer Ali Nawaz Khan, a representative of Lady Willingdon Hospital, Lahore, and a representative of Sahiwal Teaching Hospital will join as the liaison.

The secretary has ordered the committee to complete the inquiry and submit its report within 48 hours. The committee has been asked to carry out an inspection in line with the terms of reference, review safety equipment, records and other matters, and prepare the report. If any record has been burnt, a separate report should be prepared on it.

Earlier, fires in the children’s ward had twice killed dozens of children. The third fire in the ward took place on 9 October and was said to have been caused by a short circuit.