Capt. (R) Asif Iqbal Asif, Director General of the Directorate General of Special Education (DGSE), hosted Dr. Irum Rizwan, Chief Autism Consultant at the Centre for Autism Rehabilitation and Training Sindh (C-ARTS) and Head of the Autism Department at the Sindh Institute of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, on Tuesday 2nd December 2025 to chart collaborative steps toward enhanced autism services.
The discussion centered on the PSDP initiative for the Establishment of the Centre of Excellence for Autism in Islamabad and explored practical measures to ensure the new Autism Centre becomes a flagship service delivery model for DGSE. Emphasis was placed on teacher training and capacity building, development of tailored education and rehabilitation modules, and creating technically sound, inclusive infrastructure aligned with international best practices.
Participants noted that knowledge sharing and cross-provincial cooperation will be critical for a successful Autism Centre. The meeting reflected the vision of Secretary Federal Education and Professional Training Mr. Nadeem Mahbub, who is prioritising proactive, responsive service delivery in special education and rehabilitation, with knowledge exchange as a core pillar of reform.
Dr. Irum highlighted progressive initiatives by the Government of Sindh and acknowledged the role of Mr. Tuaha Ahmed Farooqui, Secretary DEPD Sindh, in resource mobilisation and expanding provincial service delivery. Directors and officer in-charges from DGSE were also present and contributed to planning practical steps toward implementation.
The session concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen interprovincial collaboration and to lay the foundation for a state of the art autism service model in the federal capital that reflects innovation, inclusivity and national synergy in special education.
