Islamabad (GNP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with nurse Razia Noreen, who saved a newborn’s life during a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), presenting her with a Rs 10 million cheque in recognition of her exceptional courage and dedication to duty.
The prime minister said the entire nation recognized Noreen’s bravery, calling her a source of pride for Pakistan, and noted that she had acted with remarkable courage, putting the safety of others ahead of her own. He said the mother of the child she rescued would remember her in prayer for the rest of her life.
He announced that Noreen would be awarded the Tamgha-e-Khidmat on March 23 in recognition of her service, adding that while the monetary award held its own significance, the true recognition lay in the fact that she had genuinely earned this honor.
The prime minister also said that everyone found responsible for the fire at PIMS would face strict consequences, and that the government would spare no effort in pursuing accountability. He said he had instructed the relevant federal minister to conduct a full review of the hospital and ensure it undergoes proper restructuring.
In her own remarks, Noreen said she had simply been fulfilling the responsibility placed on her, given that parents had entrusted their children into her care at that moment. She expressed happiness at receiving such recognition, saying she saw herself as a representative of nurses everywhere who work with similar dedication and effort. She described the incident as deeply distressing, noting that she had tried to save as many children as she could, but due to the chaos of the emergency, was only able to rescue one.
She recalled that upon seeing the fire, she acted instinctively and rushed inside without hesitation. She said she instructed another nurse to help save the children, while she herself worked to evacuate people from the area, including postnatal mothers, some of whom had recently undergone surgery.
Noreen said she managed to carry out a very small infant — the child of a mother named Asifa, weighing just 1,050 grams — and brought him to safety. Fearing the baby could get separated or misplaced amid the chaos, she handed him to someone she trusted, identifying that person as Dr. Abdul Rehman. She then returned inside to try to save another child when an explosion occurred, plunging the area into darkness and smoke.
Also read: Makkah Accord A Foundation for Security and Economic Cooperation
Federal Ministers Syed Mustafa Kamal and Attaullah Tarar were also present at the event.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
