Parents react after their child died in a hospital fire in Islamabad, Pakistan. Photo: AP

The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad housed at least 15 newborns in the nursery when the fire broke out, hospital officials said.

At least one baby was rescued, officials said, while Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal confirmed at least 14 babies had died.

Rescue officials said the fire began at around 6:45 am, after an air-conditioning unit compressor exploded inside the nursery in the gynaecology ward.

Firefighters quickly responded, extinguishing the blaze, while rescue teams began cooling operations at the site, local media reported.

Islamabad Chief Commissioner Suhail Ashraf later said the fire had been extinguished and authorities were coordinating with the families.

Within hours, the Islamabad district magistrate appointed a multiagency fact-finding committee with directions to submit a report within 24 hours.

The panel will investigate the cause of the fire and its spread, determine whether adequate fire-safety measures were in place and evaluate the emergency response, a government notification said.

Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, said: “A tragedy involving children is an irreparable loss,” and ordered an immediate investigation.

Also offering his condolences to the families was President Asif Ali Zardari, who described the deaths as “heartbreaking and an irreparable loss.”