August 30, 2026
By Xari Jalil
LAHORE
In the middle of suffocating black smoke and collapsing infrastructure, the angry fire spreading in a hellish way inside the neonatal nursery where 15 babies lay helpless, and bawling to be picked up, Nurse Razia Noreen made a split-second choice: she ran back inside instead of saving herself.
🚨 PIMS nurse Razia Noreen, a Christian, is being honored with the Sitara-e-Khidmat after CCTV showed her repeatedly entering a burning ward to rescue children.
She did not just save a child. She ran into a fire most people would instinctively run away from. In a country often… pic.twitter.com/k9YDpc2aCc
— Asad Nasir (@asadnasir2000) August 29, 2026
The devastating fire tore through the nursery on the third floor of he Gyneacological Ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) on August 26. Now a new CCTV footage shows how two nurses were present, peeping inside the nursery twice, but choosing to leave the babies there, when from the other corner, a third nurse, Razia Noreen, runs towards the nursery and grabs hold of one child nearest to her and rushes out again. By this time the fire, a vivid red glow growing larger and brighter in the CCTV, has apparently taken ahold of the nursery. Panic erupts and very soon a blast can also be seen on the camera.
In reality toxic fumes filled the ward, and Nurse Razia pushed past the danger of not only being burnt but also suffocated. Seconds later she emerged from the nursery holding the newborn—the sole survivor of the blaze that claimed 14 young lives. The baby was called the “Miracle Baby” on social media.
Razia’s heroic act has earned her nationwide praise and the highest level of state recognition. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally approved the conferment of the Sitara-i-Khidmat (Star of Service) civilian honor upon Nurse Razia, along with a state cash prize of PKR 10 million (1 Crore).
“Nurse Razia Noreen displayed exemplary responsibility, bravery, and selflessness,” Prime Minister Sharif said in an official statement. “By putting her own life on the line to save a precious infant just moments before structural collapse, she demonstrated remarkable devotion to duty. The entire nation takes pride in her heroism.”
State officials confirmed that the official civil award ceremony will formally take place as part of the upcoming national honors list, cementing Razia Noreen’s courage in the country’s public memory.
Action ordered against officials
Meanwhile, the government has ordered action against officials identified in the inquiry into the PIMS fire with the prime minister ordering the suspension of eight officials and ordered criminal proceedings against those found responsible.
Authorities were also told to take action against the private security company deployed at the hospital. The inquiry found serious shortcomings in fire safety, evacuation procedures and the emergency response.
Razia Noreen expresses her grief over deaths
Nurse Razia Naureen is a hero. Salute to her bravery.#PimsTragedy pic.twitter.com/SZYsLekpNd
— Dr Shama Junejo (@ShamaJunejo) August 30, 2026
Speaking to media, Razia expressed her grief over the deaths of the other babies. She said that her actions were driven purely by ‘professional duty, maternal instinct, and her deep affection for babies’.
“I did not do it for a reward. I love children, and caring for them is my passion,” she told news media. “The fire spread through the nursery within two minutes,” she recalled, describing how heavy smoke filled the nursery seconds after the initial spark, leaving almost no room to operate. She recounted emerging with the first baby
and attempting to go back inside to rescue the remaining 14 newborns, but the intense heat, leaping flames, and toxic black smoke rendered the room completely impassable.
Razia in an earlier interview with TV channels broke down in tears, sharing the profound heartbreak and emotional trauma of being unable to save the other infants. “I am thankful to the PM but I do not deserve this, I didnt do it for any reward.”
She said that the tragedy continues to haunt her emotionally: “I cannot sleep. Those babies do not let me sleep,” she said sobbing uncontrollably.
The Christian community has also upheld the bravery by Razia Noreen.
Activist Samuel Payara who runs NGO Minority Rights Forum, announced the Good Samaritan Award with a reward amount of 50,000 rupees.