Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting of the Advisory Board for the Centre of Excellence for Autism Spectrum Disorder to review progress and next steps for establishing a national Autism Centre.
The DPM expressed satisfaction that the Centre’s location has been finalized and directed that planning and development be expedited. He emphasized the need for trained professionals, specialized architecture, and the adoption of international best practices to ensure world-class education, therapeutic services, and research in ASD.
Present at the meeting were SAPM Tariq Bajwa, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Health, the Special Secretary Finance, senior officials from relevant ministries, and sector experts including Ms. Ayesha Haroon, Ms. Aasma Tariq and Ms. Haleema Sadia. Deliberations focused on governance, resource alignment and service quality to meet national needs.
Officials were urged to prioritize quality service delivery and inter-ministerial coordination so the Autism Centre can provide comprehensive education, therapy and research support for children and families across Pakistan, aligned with global standards and evidence-informed approaches.
