‘No one will be spared’: Mustafa Kamal vows indiscriminate action over PIMS inferno

Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal has expressed concern over the high number of child and maternal deaths in Pakistan and pledged that those responsible for the deadly fire at PIMS hospital in Islamabad will not be spared.

Speaking in the Senate on Friday, Kamal said the “matter will not die down” regardless of what happens.

“I am the health minister. I consider myself responsible [for the tragedy]…. I presented myself [for accountability],” Kamal said while addressing the Senate session.

The federal minister also called for the formation of a committee comprising opposition members to investigate the PIMS incident, which claimed the lives of 14 newborns on Wednesday.

Earlier, speaking in the National Assembly, Mustafa Kamal said around 400,000 children between the ages of one and five die every year in Pakistan. He also said around 11,000 mothers lose their lives each year during pregnancy or due to pregnancy-related complications.

Mustafa Kamal said the current situation of child and maternal deaths in Pakistan cannot be considered satisfactory. He said Pakistan has a high rate of deaths among children under the age of five.

The minister noted that many of these deaths could be prevented if children received timely and effective medical treatment.

He said these figures are not just statistics but represent the suffering and loss of thousands of families. He stressed the need to take the issue seriously and improve the healthcare system.

Mustafa Kamal also highlighted the issue of maternal deaths, saying thousands of women die every year during pregnancy or because of pregnancy-related complications.

He said expressing grief over child deaths and other recent tragedies is not enough. Lessons must be learned from such incidents and reforms should be introduced in the healthcare system to prevent future deaths.

The minister said no deceased child can be brought back, but the main focus should be on preventing similar deaths in the future.

He stressed that the issue is not limited to a single hospital or incident but is linked to the overall performance of the country’s healthcare system.

Mustafa Kamal also defended his record of parliamentary oversight, saying he had regularly attended meetings of Senate and National Assembly standing committees during the past 14 months.

He said official records could confirm his attendance and that he had not deliberately missed any standing committee meeting.

The health minister said he was ready to provide all necessary information to Parliament and relevant committees and would not try to hide any matter.

He stressed that the government, Parliament and health institutions must work together to save the lives of mothers and children.

According to Mustafa Kamal, effective policymaking, timely medical care and reforms in the healthcare system can help reduce preventable deaths in Pakistan.