At least 14 newborns have died after a fire broke out at a hospital's maternity ward in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad
Rescue teams say the fire is now under control and those injured have been taken to the ICU, says our correspondent who is on the scene
One newborn has been rescued, a hospital spokesperson confirms to the BBC
The fire broke out on the third floor of the mother and child unit in PIMS hospital, one of the main state-run hospitals in the city
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expresses "deep sorrow" and orders an immediate inquiry. A committee has been formed to produce a report within 24 hours
Police say the newborns who died in the fire have been badly burnt, and will need to be identified in through DNA tests.
Only after the DNA tests can the bodies be returned to their parents, police say.
Police issued the statement in response to demands from parents that the bodies be returned to them immediately.
Carrie Davies
BBC Pakistan correspondent
We can now bring you more photos from the scene outside the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital.
PIMS is one of the biggest public hospitals in the country.
As a reminder, authorities say that the fire has been extinguished, but it is not yet clear what caused the blaze.
Islamabad's District Magistrate has formed a fact-finding committee to investigate the fire which must produce a report "within 24 hours", according to an official document.
The fact-finding committee has been tasked to "ascertain the facts and determine the facts that caused the fire".
As we reported earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an "immediate" inquiry into the fire that killed 14 newborns.
We're now getting the first images from the hospital in Islamabad, where 14 newborns have died in a fire.
Authorities say the blaze has been extinguished.
Image source, ReutersAn ambulance is parked at the entrance of the hospital in Islamabad
Image source, ReutersHospital staff look through shattered glass windows
Image source, EPAPakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has released a statement expressing "deep sorrow and heartfelt regret" over the hospital fire.
Sharif has instructed authorities to "conduct an immediate investigation", according to the statement from his office.
"Such a situation with children is irreparable", the statement continues.
Sharif expresses his "heartfelt condolences to the families of the innocent children", adding "his heart is saddened by this tragic incident".
Carrie Davies
BBC Pakistan correspondent
At least 14 children have died after a fire at a maternity unit in a hospital in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad.
Rescue teams have said the fire is now under control and those injured taken to the ICU.
The fire broke out on the third floor of the mother and child unit of PIMS hospital, one of the main state-run hospitals in the city.
According to their spokesperson, 15 newborn babies were in the ward at the time.
TV satellite vans now line the outside of the hospital’s perimeter, waiting for news.
Fourteen newborns have died in the fire, PIMS spokesperson Dr Aneeza Jalil has confirmed to the BBC.
One newborn was rescued, Jalil adds.
The hospital will release a statement soon, she says.
Emergency responders say they have rescued at least 19 people from the hospital.
They include 10 women, seven children and two men.
The PIMS is one of the biggest hospitals in Pakistan's capital.
The hospital has 156 beds in its maternal and child health (MCH) unit, according to its website.
Initial reports say the fire hit the MCH ward, on the hospital's third floor.
A fire has broken out in the neonatal ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad and several infants are feared to have died.
Pakistani authorities have dispatched fire trucks, ambulances and emergency responders to the scene.
We will bring you updates on this breaking story as we get them.
