Pakistan hospital fire: Government announces $5 million compensation for affected families

The Pakistani government has announced a compensation of Rs5 million for each family impacted by the devastating fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), which resulted in the tragic deaths of 14 infants.

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14 infants had fallen victim to “someone’s criminal negligence”.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry addressed the media at Pims, recalling the incident and lamenting that the infants had fallen victim to "someone's criminal negligence." He assured that the Prime Minister has established an inquiry committee, whose report is expected imminently. Chaudhry pledged that all individuals found guilty of negligence while on duty would receive exemplary punishment.

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all those “on-duty individuals found guilty of negligence will be given exemplary punishment”.

"The grief of the affected families cannot be compensated for. Neither can their children be brought back, nor can their grief be reduced," Chaudhry stated. He added, "But to provide some relief, the Prime Minister has announced that Rs5 million will be given to all the affected families."

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The grief of the affected families could not be compensated for. Neither can their children be brought back, nor can their grief be reduced.

Chaudhry was at Pims to personally deliver a check to one of the affected families on behalf of the Prime Minister. The compensation funds are slated to be deposited into the accounts of the mothers of the deceased infants. The government aims to provide some measure of relief amidst the profound loss experienced by these families.

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But to provide some relief [...] the prime minister has announced that Rs5 million will be given to all the affected families.