Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired the first advisory board meeting on establishing a 300-student Centre of Excellence for Autism in Islamabad. The initiative will provide world-class care, inclusion, and support for children and their families.

The Committee reviewed timelines to complete the Centre within one year, in line with the Prime Minister's directions. Discussions included specialised architecture, staffing, HR frameworks, and service design, with emphasis on trained professionals and practitioners with hands-on experience in autism care.

Ishaq Dar endorsed a comprehensive, national approach including background screening for those working with children to structured learning tools and evidence-based methods for early diagnosis and intervention. He also stressed connecting with leading international centres to adopt best practices.

The meeting was attended by SAPM Tariq Bajwa, Secretary Health, Special Secretary Finance, senior officials from the Ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs, and specialists in the field.