Maryam Nawaz School & Resource Center For Autism' in Lahore

Maryam Nawaz School & Resource Center For Autism’

Lahore, 12 February 2026: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated Pakistan’s first government sector ‘Maryam Nawaz School & Resource Center for Autism’ in Lahore. A little autistic child Zohan saluted her and said,”Good job.” All eyes filled with tears while listening to the heart-wrenching words of Komal, mother of an autistic child Hamza, who said,”Due to lack of resources, my Hamza remained confined within four walls for 13 years.” She added that Autism Center is a ray of hope, support, and encouragement for autistic children and their parents. She paid tribute to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif by saying that she has shown herself to be a mother of the state. Grandparents of autistic brothers Ali Haider and Muhammad Hasan saluted and thanked Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. They told her that they could not afford treatment for two children, as just thinking about it used to frighten them. They said that this Autism Center is not just an institution, it is a realization of their dreams. They added that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz thought like a mother and embraced autistic children.

Maryam Nawaz School & Resource Center For Autism

Chief Minister Punjab had a tour of all departments and classrooms of Maryam Nawaz School & Resource Center for Autism, and attended a seminar with Autism School’s trainee staff. She thanked and paid tribute to Harvard University trainer and RBT Specialist Dr. Sarah. She also observed training process for specialist educators and therapists at the Resource Center Hall of the Center for Autism. She visited Early Childhood Education (ECE) classroom for young autistic children, and treated them affectionately. She colored in the sketchbook alongside the children, showing her love and engagement.

On the occasion, an autistic student demonstrated playing piano and harmonium in Music Therapy Room before Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who said that she has kept her promise of building Punjab, and have achieved what no one else could have done before. A special song was performed in the Music Therapy Room to pay homage to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, as faces of autistic children lit up with joy seeing her. She showed affection by embracing them lovingly. She held an autistic child’s hand and walked with him on the running and walking track. She inspected junior and senior classrooms, and observed rehabilitation process for autistic children in Occupational Therapy Room, Art Therapy Room, Music Therapy Room, and Speech Therapy Room at the School & Resource Center for Autism. She visited first-of-its-kind Pre-Vocational Training Room and Computer setup established for the autistic children, reviewed Sand Therapy Area and Sensory Garden Area for Autism, and interacted with the children there. She also inspected the first-floor Dining Hall and Walking Track Open Gym.

CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif Addresses Ceremony at ‘Maryam Nawaz School & Resource Center for Autism’ in Lahore

Lahore, 12 February 2026: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif said while addressing a ceremony at ‘Maryam Nawaz School & Resource Center for Autism’ in Lahore that this was an empty plot of land one year ago; but today, by the grace of Allah, seeing Pakistan’s first Autism School established here has filled my heart with joy and happiness. She added that the Autism Center, built according to international standards, provides all facilities for the treatment of autistic children under one roof. She highlighted that perhaps not even in the world, let alone Pakistan, are such facilities available for autistic children all under one roof. She congratulated autistic children and their parents on the establishment of Pakistan’s first government sector Autism Center. She noted that the way Special Assistant to CM Sania Ashiq led this Autism School project with interest and commitment is commendable. Autistic children’s faces light up when they see Sania Ashiq, who has embraced these children as her own.

Chief Minister Punjab underscored that more than 20,000 special children across Punjab have been treated and undergone surgery, restoring them to normal life. She noted that Allah Almighty chose Sania Ashiq for this special service, as the facilities available at the Autism Center are nothing less than a miracle. May Allah reward all those who worked hard and contributed to its establishment. She congratulated and applauded Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Provincial Minister Suhaib Bharat, Secretary Sohail Ashraf, Saman, Raza Jaffar, Fahad Naveed, and others for their valuable roles, and said,”I thank everyone for their support in helping restore faith in humanity.” She highlighted that special children are very dear to me. Autistic children, their families, and their parents are also very special for me, because the way parents of special children deal with their problems every day is commendable.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that her younger sister Asma’s eldest son, Ibrahim, is autistic. She added that when they took two-and-a-half-year-old Ibrahim to the doctor for a check-up, they suddenly discovered that he has autism. She noted that she has observed Ibrahim and his parents very closely, as her sister Asma is training her two normal children to take special care of their autistic brother, Ibrahim. She underscored that parents of autistic children face new and unique challenges in their daily lives. Many autistic children go from mild to hyper, and anger becomes a part of their nature. She flashed that despite having resources, my sister remained unaware of Ibrahim’s autism for two and a half years, but after immense effort and training, Ibrahim has now begun to express his thoughts.

Chief Minister Punjab lamented that unfortunately, there is also a tradition of tying autistic children to cots and confining them within four walls, and autistic children of poor parents wander through streets and neighborhoods. She noted that the courage and patience of autistic children’s parents stand tall and strong like a rock. She expressed happiness and thanked Allah Almighty that today, state is sharing some of the burden of autistic children’s parents. She said that her work is not just to build roads, hospitals, and schools; it is also to solve people’s problems, as who could be more incompetent than a state unaware of its deprived citizens? She added that by the grace of Allah Almighty, all facilities are available under one roof at this Autism School. She noted with concern that 90% of people from underprivileged backgrounds cannot afford treatment for their autistic child themselves, but in the eyes of a state, rights of rich and poor are equal.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that they do not fully comprehend problems of autistic children because they can neither speak nor explain. She added that some autistic children, frightened by noise and light, become frustrated and try to harm themselves, but at the Autism Center, they will teach autistic children to look the world confidently in the eye. She highlighted that some autistic children cannot hear noise; they will gradually acclimatize them to sound, and will teach autistic children through various therapies, how to cope with various situations.She vowed to create as many facilities as possible for the autistic children, as they will introduce further skills in Occupational Therapy for the autistic children.

Chief Minister Punjab said that listening to an autistic child’s mother say, ‘I wish my child would call me “Mama,”‘ broke her heart, because when an autistic child finally calls out ‘Mama,’ how overjoyed will his parents be? She added that in the soundproof Speech Therapy Center, autistic children are taught to speak. She noted thst Music Therapy, Art Therapy, even walking on textured floors—all are forms of therapy for autistic children. She underscored that visually impaired autistic children walk by running their hands over textured marble, and autistic children express themselves by drawing shapes and pictures. She noted that an open-air gym for physical health of autistic chilgren has also been built at the Autism Center.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that some autistic children cannot chew, while some lack the ability to swallow, leading to malnutrition. She added that at the Autism Center, children are taught oral sensory speech techniques, as ‘Maryam Nawaz School & Resource Center for Autism’ is not just a school, it is a social revolution that will become a hub. She highlighted that they will take therapeutic activities for autistic children to district level, as they are making excellent investments to improve human resources. She noted that capacity building of special educators will also be carried out at ‘Maryam Nawaz School & Resource Center for Autism,’ and a curriculum has been designed according to every specific level of autism.

Chief Minister Punjab said that classrooms, walls, and entire infrastructure of the Autism School have been constructed according to international standards. She added that they will also provide training to parents of autistic children so that they can administer proper therapy. She flashed that they are providing 70 specially designed buses for special children across Punjab. She appreciated all those who contributed to the noble cause of establishing ‘Maryam Nawaz School & Resource Center for Autism,’ and this journey must not stop. She noted that easing people’s difficulties brings her happiness.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is also pleased with the establishment of ‘Maryam Nawaz School & Resource Center for Autism, as he is very happy that such a large institution for autism treatment has been built in Pakistan. She added that Muhammad Nawaz Sharif congratulated the parents of autistic children and reassured them that the state stands by them in difficult times.