Pims fire hero nurse to receive Tamgha-i-Shujaat for bravery
President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the conferment of the Tamgha-i-Shujaat on Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) nurse Razia Noreen.
The national award recognises her bravery during a fire at the hospital’s Mother and Child Hospital. The blaze claimed the lives of 14 newborns and raised serious concerns about fire safety at the facility.
The Presidency announced the approval on Wednesday, highlighting Noreen’s actions during the emergency.
صدرِ مملکت آصف علی زرداری نے اہم سمریز کی منظوری دے دی۔ منظور شدہ سمریز میں نیشنل انسٹی ٹیوٹ آف فوک اینڈ ٹریڈیشنل ہیریٹیج (لوک ورثہ) ترمیمی بل 2026، اسٹینڈرڈ ٹائم (تشریحِ حوالہ جات) ترمیمی بل 2026، آرمڈ فورسز انسٹی ٹیوٹ آف یورولوجی (AFIU) راولپنڈی کی ٹیبل آف آرگنائزیشن اینڈ ایکوپمنٹ میں نظرثانی اور ماحول دوست طریقے سے بحری جہازوں میں موجود مضر مواد کے انتظام سے متعلق بل 2026 کی منظوری شامل ہے۔ صدرِ مملکت نے پاکستان انسٹی ٹیوٹ آف میڈیکل سائنسز (PIMS) کی اسٹاف نرس رضیہ نورین کو تمغۂ شجاعت دینے کی منظوری بھی دی، جنہوں نے PIMS میں آتشزدگی کے واقعے کے دوران اپنی جان خطرے میں ڈال کر واحد زندہ بچنے والے بچے کو بحفاظت باہر نکالا۔
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) September 16, 2026
Nurse’s actions during the Pims fire
CCTV footage from the incident showed Noreen entering the nursery as flames spread through the area.
She emerged seconds later carrying a newborn to safety. The footage also showed her attempting to return to the nursery shortly after, but the fire had intensified by then.
Her actions drew public attention after the incident, particularly because the fire spread rapidly inside the facility.
The August 26 blaze resulted in the deaths of 14 infants. The tragedy raised widespread concerns about the hospital’s emergency arrangements and fire safety measures.
Recognition for extraordinary bravery
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif awarded Noreen a cheque of Rs10 million in recognition of her courage and dedication during the incident.
Speaking after receiving the recognition, Noreen said she was simply performing her duty.
She explained that the children had been entrusted to her care at that moment, making their safety her responsibility.
Her statement reflected the sense of duty she said guided her actions during the emergency.
The approval of the Tamgha-i-Shujaat adds another official recognition of her role in the rescue effort.
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Inquiry examines cause of deadly blaze
The development comes as an inquiry committee continues to examine the circumstances surrounding the Pims fire.
The committee said on Wednesday that the blaze was most likely caused by a localised electrical failure. However, it also identified what it described as systemic and institutional failures in hospital management.
According to the committee, these failures contributed to the fire becoming a major catastrophe.
The report cited CCTV footage showing “an exceptionally rapid emergency”. It also said the evidence “rejects any generalised allegation that frontline personnel abandoned the newborns”.
The findings distinguish between the rapid spread of the fire and broader questions about the hospital’s preparedness, management and safety systems.
