Autism School Pakistan: Maryam Nawaz Opens Punjab's First Government-Run Center

Pakistan has a new first to its name, and this one hits close to home for thousands of families who have spent years searching for support. The Maryam Nawaz School and Resource Centre for Autism officially opened on February 12, 2026 in Lahore as the country's first government-run institution dedicated entirely to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the facility herself, touring classrooms and spending time with children, joining them in coloring and music therapy.

For many parents of autistic children in Pakistan, this is not just a school. It is the answer to years of impossible choices.

Pakistan's First Autism Center: What's Inside

Just a year ago, the site was an empty piece of land. Today it houses a facility built to international standards, offering treatment, education, and rehabilitation under one roof. The Chief Minister noted that such an integrated setup is rare not only in Pakistan but possibly anywhere in the world.

The center includes an Early Childhood Education classroom, pre-vocational training room, computer lab, sand therapy area, sensory garden, dining hall, walking track, and open gym. It also provides speech therapy, music therapy, art therapy, and occupational therapy, all aimed at building communication, confidence, and independence in children. The building has been specially designed to be soundproof so children can focus fully on learning.

Over 5,000 children enrolled within a short span of time, a milestone described as historic in Punjab's history. The Chief Minister also announced that underprivileged children would receive free therapy and education at the center.

Free Autism Therapy and Education for Punjab Families

Private autism therapy centers and specialized schools in Pakistan have long been out of reach for most families. The fees are high, the waiting lists are long, and the geographic spread is limited. This school fills that gap by offering a government-backed, affordable option combining global best practices including ABA, SALT, and TEACCH, adapted for the Pakistani context.

A comprehensive curriculum has been designed covering communication and language, life skills, Islamic and moral education, technology, physical education, and social studies. Children aged 3 to 16 are admitted, and those enrolled can continue receiving education and treatment up to the age of 22.

The school also has a 13-member Board of Governors and a three-year strategic plan, with world-class autism experts being brought in to strengthen the quality of education and therapy.

Autistic Children in Pakistan: The Families Behind the Numbers

Maryam Nawaz spoke candidly at the inauguration, drawing from a personal experience within her own family to highlight the emotional and financial weight carried by parents of autistic children. She acknowledged that many autistic children face behavioral challenges and that some underprivileged families are forced to keep children at home due to lack of awareness and resources. "The state has equal responsibility toward both the rich and the poor," she said.

The inauguration had deeply emotional moments. Komal, mother of an autistic child, said her son had been confined for 13 years and called the center a "ray of hope." She also approved the inclusion of special children in the Himmat Card program, and 48 new buses in addition to the 70 specialized buses already being provided across Punjab to transport special children.

Autism Care to Expand Across Punjab Districts

The Lahore center is just the beginning. Maryam Nawaz announced plans to expand autism treatment and care facilities to the district level across the entire province, which would mean families outside Lahore no longer have to travel long distances or go without care entirely.

If the rollout goes as planned, it could reshape how Pakistan as a whole approaches neurodevelopmental support, shifting from a system where access depended on income to one where every child, regardless of background, has a real shot.

For autism families in Punjab, that shift cannot come soon enough.