The Media Line: Christian Nurse Awarded Pakistan’s Star of Service for Saving Newborn in PIMS Fire  

Christian Nurse Awarded Pakistan’s Star of Service for Saving Newborn in PIMS Fire  

By Arshad Mehmood / The Media Line Staff  

Pakistan honored a Christian nurse, Razia Noreen, with the Star of Service, one of the country’s most prestigious civilian honors, for risking her life to rescue a sole surviving newborn from a hospital nursery fire that killed 14 other infants.  

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif approved the award, along with a cash prize of 10 million rupees, in recognition of Noreen’s courage and selfless actions during the fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad last week.  

According to the state broadcaster Radio Pakistan, Sharif praised Noreen for demonstrating remarkable devotion by risking her own life to rescue a child from the flames just moments before major destruction engulfed the hospital.  

Sharif said the entire nation, including himself, is proud of Nurse Noreen for risking her life to save a child. The Prime Minister said that devoted individuals like Noreen deserve the highest level of appreciation and national recognition.  

At least 14 newborns perished in a nursery fire at Islamabad’s PIMS hospital on Wednesday morning.  

During a televised interview on Sunday, Noreen became emotional and broke down in tears while recounting the horrific fire and the deaths of the newborns she could not save.  

Noreen said she never acted with the expectation of receiving a reward, saying her love for children and passion for caring for them drove her actions. She said she desperately wanted to rescue the other newborns, but the fire engulfed the nursery within minutes.  

She said she was devastated that she could not return for the other babies after carrying the first infant to safety, as the rapidly spreading flames prevented her from going back inside. The experience, she said, continues to haunt her.  

“I cannot sleep. Those babies do not let me sleep,” Noreen said.  

Noreen will receive the “Star of Service,” an award recognizing distinguished public service and exceptional contributions to Pakistan, along with a cash prize of about $36,000.  

The decision has been widely praised on social media, with many people commending Noreen for her courage and selfless actions.  

Mary James Gill, a Lahore-based minority rights advocate, former member of the Punjab Provincial Assembly and prominent lawyer, told The Media Line that “Noreen’s courage had drawn widespread praise across Pakistan, particularly from the country’s Christian community.”  

“Her story has renewed attention to the generations of Christian nurses who have played a prominent role in caring for the sick and serving vulnerable communities in Pakistan,” Gill added.  

She said Noreen’s actions offered a powerful reminder that humanity transcends religion, identity and other divisions.  

Gill also welcomed Prime Minister Sharif’s decision to recognize Noreen’s bravery, saying the honor was a source of pride not only for the nurse but also for Pakistan’s Christian community, which has made longstanding contributions to the country’s healthcare and public service sectors.