Staff nurse Razia Noreen has been approved for the Tamgha-i-Shujaat after risking her life to rescue a newborn during the deadly fire at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad.
President Asif Ali Zardari approved the national award on September 16, recognising her actions during the emergency.
The fire broke out in the neonatal nursery of PIMS’ Mother and Child Hospital on August 26. Fourteen newborns lost their lives, while Noreen managed to bring one baby out of the
The Tamgha-i-Shujaat adds to a series of recognitions for Noreen’s actions. Earlier in September, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met her at the Prime Minister’s Office and presented her with a Rs10 million cheque in recognition of her courage and dedication to duty.
The prime minister had also announced that Noreen would receive the Sitara-i-Khidmat for her service. The latest approval by President Zardari formally adds the Tamgha-i-Shujaat to the honours being conferred on the PIMS nurse.
The recognition comes as investigators have examined the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. A 43-page inquiry report found that the nursery fire developed exceptionally quickly and identified wider institutional and fire-safety failures at the hospital.
The committee’s latest findings indicate that a localised electrical failure was the most probable source of ignition, with forensic evidence pointing towards an electrical supply cable near air-conditioning equipment.
The report said there was no evidence establishing arson or identifying an incubator or warmer as the source.
For Noreen, the national recognition follows an incident in which her professional responsibility became a life-or-death decision. She entered a nursery engulfed by a rapidly spreading fire and brought the surviving newborn to safety.
The inquiry has separately recommended stronger fire detection, alarm, evacuation and electrical safety systems at PIMS, along with dedicated procedures for evacuating vulnerable newborns during emergencies.
The Tamgha-i-Shujaat now formally records Noreen’s actions among the country’s recognised acts of courage.
Staff nurse Razia Noreen has been approved for the Tamgha-i-Shujaat after risking her life to rescue a newborn during the deadly fire at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad.
Staff nurse Razia Noreen has been approved for the Tamgha-i-Shujaat after risking her life to rescue a newborn during the deadly fire at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad.
President Asif Ali Zardari approved the national award on September 16, recognising her actions during the emergency.
The fire broke out in the neonatal nursery of PIMS’ Mother and Child Hospital on August 26. Fourteen newborns lost their lives, while Noreen managed to bring one baby out of the
The Tamgha-i-Shujaat adds to a series of recognitions for Noreen’s actions. Earlier in September, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met her at the Prime Minister’s Office and presented her with a Rs10 million cheque in recognition of her courage and dedication to duty.
The prime minister had also announced that Noreen would receive the Sitara-i-Khidmat for her service. The latest approval by President Zardari formally adds the Tamgha-i-Shujaat to the honours being conferred on the PIMS nurse.
The recognition comes as investigators have examined the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. A 43-page inquiry report found that the nursery fire developed exceptionally quickly and identified wider institutional and fire-safety failures at the hospital.
The committee’s latest findings indicate that a localised electrical failure was the most probable source of ignition, with forensic evidence pointing towards an electrical supply cable near air-conditioning equipment.
The report said there was no evidence establishing arson or identifying an incubator or warmer as the source.
For Noreen, the national recognition follows an incident in which her professional responsibility became a life-or-death decision. She entered a nursery engulfed by a rapidly spreading fire and brought the surviving newborn to safety.
The inquiry has separately recommended stronger fire detection, alarm, evacuation and electrical safety systems at PIMS, along with dedicated procedures for evacuating vulnerable newborns during emergencies.
The Tamgha-i-Shujaat now formally records Noreen’s actions among the country’s recognised acts of courage.
