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On PM’s instruction, the PIMS fire incident inquiry report was made public.
The inquiry report of the extremely unfortunate fire incident in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) was made public on the directions of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
According to the Prime Minister’s office, the Inquiry Committee, constituted on 26.08.2026 to enquire into the fire incident in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), presented its interim report to the Prime Minister on Saturday.
The committee presented the facts gathered so far, available video of the incident and its interim recommendations to the Prime Minister.
This Interim Report records only those facts and prima facie findings presently supported by the available evidence.
Matters requiring forensic, technical or documentary reconciliation, including the precise ignition source, the causal contribution of particular deficiencies and final fixation of individual responsibility, are expressly reserved for the comprehensive report. The Committee has throughout distinguished between what ignited the fire, what enabled it to become catastrophic, and who was responsible for preventable failures.
CCTV footage presently provides the most objective reconstruction of the incident. The first visible emergency appears at approximately 06:38:15, when Charge Nurse Nasreen hurriedly emerges from the Nursery and seeks assistance. At approximately 06:38:35, she and Security Guard Maria enter the Nursery, with reflections of flames visible. Staff Nurse Razia enters at approximately 06:38:56 and emerges at about 06:39:04 carrying a baby, thereby effecting a rescue.
She attempts to re-enter shortly thereafter. Dr. Abdul Rehman emerges at approximately 06:39:12, while by about 06:39:15 Camera 16 is substantially obscured by smoke.
The adjoining corridor door visible on Camera 12 is opened at approximately 06:39:45, and by about 06:40:08 Camera 12 is also obscured by smoke. This evidence therefore establishes that the Nursery environment deteriorated catastrophically within approximately two minutes.
The precise technical source of ignition is not yet conclusively established. Various accounts attribute the fire to an AC, incubator/warmer or electrical short circuit/plug overloading. IESCO records do not indicate a contemporaneous external feeder fault or tripping, thereby shifting any electrical causation inquiry downstream to PIMS’s internal electrical distribution, sockets, plugs, wiring and connected equipment.
Preventive maintenance records also indicate that several incubators had recently been serviced and returned in working condition, although those records do not conclusively establish electrical safety of the equipment, plug, socket or associated circuit.
Accordingly, an internal electrical/equipment related origin remains plausible, but it would be premature to identify any particular appliance or component as the established cause.
The Committee considers it important that uncertainty regarding the first spark should not prevent examination of the protective systems that should have prevented an initial fire from becoming a mass fatality event.
The cause of ignition and the causes of the consequences are related but analytically distinct.
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OpenAI says its AI agents weakened internal monitoring system
Two of OpenAI’s artificial intelligence agents turned off sections of an internal monitoring system designed to identify misbehaviour, the latest example of AI agents operating in ways the developers did not expect, the company said Tuesday.
While the ChatGPT maker stated the incidences occurred during internal code work and were not considered its most serious, the disclosure underscores how even the methods developers use to spot AI misbehavior are vulnerable to the agents they monitor.
The discovery also comes amid rising fears that efforts on AI safety are failing to keep pace with the rapid development of ever more powerful systems. Scientists have cautioned about the emergence of powerful AI agents becoming increasingly autonomous and difficult to monitor and manage.
In recent months, developers including IPO-bound rivals OpenAI and Anthropic have disclosed incidents where their AI agents accessed external systems without authorisation.
In a blog post Tuesday, OpenAI reported that a GPT-6.1 Sol agent on an internal testing task on October 3 disabled automatic security alarms after interpreting an earlier order not to send Slack messages as also covering safety notifications.
Separately, on Oct. 6, an Astra agent using GPT-6 removed a safety monitor when copying an existing piece of code and later stated falsely that it did not do so, OpenAI said.“In both cases, agents thought about keeping monitoring safeguards in place but “interpreted normal coding instructions as permission to weaken them,” the company said.
“OpenAI said it was making it harder for models to disable monitoring, saying it does not ‘yet have a satisfying explanation for this behavior’.
The San Francisco-based company said it was studying whether its models would be inclined to avoid being observed and seek out reasons to justify such behaviour.
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Makkah pact aims to strengthen collective deterrence among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye
Turkiye sent a defence treaty with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to parliament for ratification on Tuesday, three parliamentary sources said, bringing NATO’s second-largest army closer to a formal mutual defence promise with Riyadh as it fears Houthi threats.
The three countries signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in August, under which an armed attack on one member is an attack on all.
The first clause of the agreement says the parties shall use “all necessary means” to eradicate threats to each other’s territorial integrity, sovereignty or internationally recognised borders, according to a text seen by Reuters.Article 2 of the agreement states, “If one of the parties is subjected to an armed attack or military aggression by another country or group of countries, the parties shall immediately render assistance to the party which is under attack, with all means of mutual assistance at their disposal.”
Similar to NATO’s Article 5, the clause references Article 51 of the UN Charter, which deals with the individual or collective right of states to self-defence against armed attack.
The same page says the three countries “will determine the scope and nature of the support to be provided following an objective assessment of the assistance required” and will collaborate within their available resources, including military capabilities and resources.
Earlier this month, the three countries decided in an emergency alliance conference in Riyadh to guarantee the “rapid deployment” of military forces and capabilities in Saudi Arabia.
Turkiye, which has its own strong defence sector, has condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, showed a willingness to help satisfy Riyadh’s military technology demands and agreed to join a Saudi-led coalition to assure navigational safety in the Red Sea.
The pact also foresees tight cooperation on the defence sector, exchange of information, logistical support, and the fight against “all forms of terrorism”, including at the operational level.
Parliamentary approval is required for Turkiye to formally sign off on the pact.
The aim is to “strengthen collective deterrence”
Two sources claimed Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmus, who is on a visit to Kyrgyzstan, would send the deal to the foreign affairs commission of parliament after he returns. The terms and specifics of the agreement are expected to be released when it is filed with the commission.
The commission may discuss the accord as early as Friday, another person added.
Turkiye’s latest move was an important milestone in the institutionalisation of strategic collaboration between the three countries, Burhanettin Duran, communications director for President Tayyip Erdogan, stated.“This strategic partnership between our countries aims to strengthen collective deterrence, improve joint capabilities in the defence sector and secure security and stability in our region,” Duran said in a post on X.
A Turkish official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said Turkey’s own contribution was likely to be limited to military equipment, intelligence sharing and weapons systems, and no other form of deployment had been made under the alliance so far.
“The Mecca Agreement is not a ‘offensive agreement,’ and Turkiye would not send forces to another nation to conduct out operations on its land. When asked how Turkiye could help Saudi Arabia fight against attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan responded
Turkey’s constitution needs independent parliamentary approval for any deployment of military overseas, regardless of international agreements.
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Pakistan decide not to participate in Over-50s Cricket World Cup 2027 in India
– Pakistan have decided not to participate in the Over-50 Cricket World Cup 2027 scheduled to take place in India after failing to secure government permission for the tournament.
The competition is scheduled to be held in Hyderabad Deccan from January 23 to February 7, 2027. Pakistan was due to participate as defending champions after winning the 2025 edition in Sri Lanka.
Fawad Ejaz Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), said Indian veterans cricket officials had assured the Pakistani team of visa arrangements and high-level security for the tournament.
He said the association had sought permission to participate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior. However, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi subsequently informed the association that permission would not be granted.
Following the government’s decision, the association decided against sending the team to India, Khan said, adding that the organisation respected the government’s position.
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