The story of PIMS nurse national hero Razia Noreen has gained international attention after a leading American newspaper highlighted her actions during a devastating fire at Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). Noreen risked her own life to rescue a newborn from the burning nursery, and her bravery has since been recognized both at home and abroad.
PIMS Nurse National Hero: International Recognition
According to a report, the Washington Post published an Associated Press account describing how Noreen ran into the burning nursery and emerged just eight seconds later carrying a newborn in her arms. The report said she attempted to return to the nursery to save the remaining infants but was forced back by intense flames and thick smoke before she could reach them again.
The baby she managed to rescue was reported to be the sole survivor of the fire, which claimed the lives of 14 other newborns. The tragedy prompted widespread grief across Pakistan and renewed scrutiny of fire safety standards at hospitals, with authorities separately reporting that dozens of Islamabad hospitals were fined over fire safety violations in the aftermath.
Government Recognition for Her Bravery
Noreen has since been hailed as a national hero across Pakistan. The government announced that she will receive the Sitara-i-Khidmat, or Star of Service, one of the country’s civil awards, along with a financial reward in recognition of her bravery. Officials had earlier announced a Rs. 10 million reward alongside the civil award for the nurse credited with saving the baby during the PIMS fire.
In Her Own Words
Speaking about the rescue, Noreen said she did not enter the burning nursery in pursuit of recognition or a reward, describing her actions instead as the duty of a nurse and a mother. She said her only mission in that moment was to save the babies, and that she did not think about her own safety when she ran into the fire.
Noreen has also expressed deep sorrow over the 14 newborns she was unable to save, saying the tragedy left her traumatized and emotionally devastated. Her account reflects the human toll the fire took not only on the families who lost infants but also on the medical staff who responded in the moments after the blaze broke out.
A Story That Resonated Beyond Pakistan
The international coverage of Noreen’s actions has brought renewed attention to the PIMS fire tragedy and the broader question of hospital fire safety in Pakistan. Her recognition, both through Pakistan’s civil honors system and in international media, has been described by many as a rare moment of individual courage amid a tragic and devastating event.
This report draws on information from the Washington Post, which cited an Associated Press account of the rescue. For more national news updates, see our national news section.
