SAHIWAL: Punjab’s Secretary for Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education, Azmat Mahmood, has formally constituted an inquiry committee to conduct a transparent investigation into the October 9 fire that broke out in a monitoring machine at the Children’s Ward of Sahiwal Teaching Hospital.
The committee will be headed by Additional Secretary Finance Syed Sajid Tirmizi as convener. Its members include a representative of the Deputy Commissioner of Sahiwal and a representative from the energy sector. Ali Nawaz Khan, a biomedical engineer at Lady Willingdon Hospital, Lahore, has also been included, along with a representative of Sahiwal Teaching Hospital, who will serve as coordinator.
The health secretary has issued strict instructions to the committee, directing it to complete its investigation and submit its report within 48 hours. Notably, the Children’s Ward has previously been the site of serious fire incidents in which children lost their lives.
Under its terms of reference (ToRs), the committee has been tasked with inspecting the site and closely examining safety equipment, records and other related matters before compiling a detailed report. It has also been instructed to prepare a separate report if any records were destroyed in the fire.
The fire on October 9 was caused by a short circuit in a monitoring machine in the Children’s Ward. It was brought under control through timely action.