Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired the first advisory board meeting focused on establishing a Centre of Excellence for Autism designed to accommodate 300 students. This initiative aims to deliver top-tier care, inclusion, and support to children and their families.

According to Radio Pakistan, the meeting concentrated on reviewing the timelines for completing the Centre within one year, aligning with the Prime Minister's directives. Discussions covered various aspects, including specialized architecture, staffing, human resource frameworks, and service design. There was a strong focus on ensuring the involvement of trained professionals and practitioners with direct experience in autism care.

The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the need for a comprehensive, national approach. This approach includes background screening for those working with children, structured learning tools, and evidence-based methods for early diagnosis and intervention. He also emphasized the importance of connecting the center with leading international centers to incorporate best practices.

The meeting saw the participation of Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, Secretary Health, Special Secretary Finance, senior officials from the Ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs, and specialists in the field, all contributing to the discussion on this significant initiative.