LAHORE: Pakistan’s first government-run “Maryam Nawaz School and Resource Center for Autism” has been established in Lahore. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the facility and also visited its various sections and classrooms.
During the visit, the Chief Minister tours all departments of the center, including the Early Childhood Education (ECE) classroom for young autistic children. She also reviews the pre-vocational training room and computer facilities set up for autistic students for the first time.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif inspects the sand therapy area, sensory garden, dining hall, walking track, and open gym on the first floor. She also observes ongoing training sessions for specialist educators and therapists at the resource center.
The Chief Minister interacts warmly with children, spends time with them in classrooms, and participates in activities such as coloring in sketchbooks. In the music therapy room, an autistic student performs on the piano and harmonium, while a special song is presented to pay tribute to the Chief Minister.
Parents and family members of autistic children express deep gratitude, describing the center as a source of hope, support, and encouragement for families who previously struggled to access treatment and education.
The CM states that the autism center is not just an institution but the realization of a dream for countless children and their families. She emphasizes the government’s commitment to providing comprehensive facilities for the rehabilitation, education, and well-being of autistic children.
While speaking on the occasion, Maryam Nawaz Sharif announces that facilities for the treatment and care of autistic children will be expanded to the district level across the province. She says that just a year ago the site was an empty piece of land, and today the establishment of the first autism school fills her heart with joy. She states that the center, built according to international standards, provides comprehensive treatment facilities for autistic children under one roof, adding that such an integrated facility is rare not only in Pakistan but possibly worldwide.
The Chief Minister highlights that more than 20,000 special children across Punjab have received treatment and surgeries to help restore normal life. She describes the facilities at the autism center as nothing short of a miracle and praises everyone who contributed to its establishment.
Maryam Nawaz says special children and their families hold a very special place for her, acknowledging the daily challenges faced by parents of autistic children. She shares a personal example from her own family to emphasize the difficulties and emotional struggles involved.
She notes that many autistic children face behavioural challenges and that, unfortunately, some families — especially those with limited resources — are forced to keep such children confined due to lack of support. She stresses that the state has an equal responsibility toward both rich and poor and that most underprivileged families cannot afford autism treatment on their own.
The Chief Minister says the center will introduce more skills in occupational therapy and will help children gain confidence, communication ability, and independence through speech therapy, music therapy, art therapy, and other specialized interventions.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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