'A daughter of the nation': PM Shehbaz praises nurse who rescued baby from Pims fire

Razia Noreen saw the fire while preparing medication, shut the cabinet and rushed into the nursery. Moments later, she emerged carrying a baby. She then tried to go back inside.

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You are truly a daughter of the nation

The fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad killed 14 babies last week and triggered shock across Pakistan. Lawmakers in both houses of parliament called for accountability. Footage from the incident showed Noreen entering the nursery at about 6:39 a.m. and returning seconds later with the child.

At a meeting in Islamabad's PM House, Noreen told Shehbaz Sharif how she discovered the fire and tried to save children in the maternity ward. She said she did not stop to think before entering. She also told another nurse to save the children, including post-natal mothers who had undergone operations.

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I threw the cabinet door shut and rushed inside

Noreen rescued one of the smaller babies and handed him to Dr Abdul Rehman outside the ward. She rushed back in, but a sudden blast caused a blackout as she attempted to rescue a second baby. She said she wished she could have saved the others, while describing her actions as her responsibility as a nurse.

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I didn’t even think about it

Shehbaz told Noreen, “You are truly a daughter of the nation,” and said the mother of the rescued child would bless her. He said her actions would be recorded in history. The prime minister had approved the Sitara-i-Khidmat and a Rs10 million cash reward for Noreen, whom his office said saved a child without regard for her own life.

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The mother of the child you saved will bless you