- Punjab CM announces province-wide expansion of autism facilities with international-standard treatment under one roof
- Says over 20,000 special children already supported across Punjab while 70 specialized buses approved for children with special needs
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday announced that facilities for the treatment, care and rehabilitation of autistic children would be expanded to the district level across the province, reaffirming the government’s commitment to inclusive and accessible special education and healthcare.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Maryam Nawaz School and Resource Center for Autism, the chief minister said that what was an empty piece of land just a year ago had now been transformed into Pakistan’s first government-run autism center, calling it a moment of immense personal satisfaction and joy.
یہ سہولت خاص طور پر والدین کے لیے خوشی کا باعث ہوگی، کیونکہ جب بچے پہلی بار ماں یا باپ کو آواز دیں گے، یہ لمحہ والدین کے لیے سب سے بڑی خوشی ہوگی۔
ہم یقین رکھتے ہیں کہ ہر بچہ اپنے امکانات کو پہچان کر خود پر اعتماد حاصل کرے۔ pic.twitter.com/JBrm9MryHJ— PML-N Team (@PMLNTeamPK) February 12, 2026
She said the center had been built in line with international standards and offered comprehensive treatment and educational facilities for autistic children under one roof, describing it as a rare integrated model not only in Pakistan but possibly in the world.
Congratulating autistic children and their parents on the landmark initiative, the chief minister lauded Special Assistant Sania Ashiq for her leadership and dedication in bringing the project to fruition. She noted that more than 20,000 special children across Punjab had already benefited from government-supported treatment and surgeries aimed at helping them lead more normal lives.
Maryam Nawaz said special children and their families held a deeply special place in her heart, acknowledging the daily emotional and social challenges faced by parents of autistic children. Referring to a personal experience within her own family, she highlighted the difficulties involved in caring for children with special needs.
She pointed out that due to lack of support, many families—particularly underprivileged ones—were forced to confine autistic children at home, stressing that the state bore equal responsibility toward rich and poor alike, as most low-income families could not afford costly autism treatment.
A government’s responsibility isn’t limited to building roads and bridges it must stand with its people in their most difficult moments. If the vulnerable are ignored, the state has failed its purpose. Real progress means no one is left behind. pic.twitter.com/HJQmJM94pM
— PML-N Team (@PMLNTeamPK) February 12, 2026
The chief minister said the center would introduce advanced occupational therapy skills and help children develop confidence, communication and independence through speech therapy, music therapy, art therapy and other specialized interventions. She added that the facility was not merely a school but a hub of social transformation, with further investment planned in human resource development, teacher capacity building and parent training programs.
Maryam Nawaz also announced the provision of 70 specialized buses across Punjab for special children and reiterated her resolve to take autism treatment services to every district. She said alleviating people’s hardships gave her the greatest satisfaction, adding that Nawaz Sharif had also expressed happiness over the initiative and assured parents that the state stood with them in difficult times.
Earlier, the chief minister formally inaugurated Pakistan’s first government-run Maryam Nawaz School and Resource Center for Autism in Lahore and toured its classrooms and departments, including Early Childhood Education facilities, pre-vocational training rooms, computer labs, sand therapy areas, sensory gardens, dining halls, walking tracks and open gyms. She interacted with children, observed therapy sessions and received appreciation from parents, who described the center as a long-awaited source of hope and support.
