The Government of Sindh has made a tremendous breakthrough in the healthcare sector with the establishment of the first-ever residential autism centre in the country to offer long-term boarding, clinical treatment and rehabilitation for neurodivergent children. The cutting-edge facility was inaugurated by Pakistan’s First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in the industrial Korangi of Karachi. An unprecedented initiative providing parents with relief from the challenges of coming and going to multiple services for assistance around the clock, and in an international-standard format.
C-ARTS Network and Campus Infrastructure
This newly established residential complex operates under the Center for Autism Rehabilitation and Training, Sindh (C-ARTS), a fully government-funded network. The building is a specially designed facility with some novel features to the public health service in the country:
Capacity & Accommodation: The initial capacity for the facility is 250 children with autism living there and receiving 24/7 professional care, with secure residential quarters and supervised care provided.
Respite Services: In addition to permanent residence, the centre provides short term respite care where families and primary carers need relief from the medical or personal emergencies.
An inclusive park has been set up next to the residential blocks to give young people with a diagnosis of autism the opportunity to play and socialize with typically developing children in a secure environment.
Digital Integration: During the launch ceremony, Phase-1 of the C-ARTS Digital Registration Portal was deployed to transition the institution into paperless, centralized medical data management.
Multidisciplinary Care and Rehabilitation Services
The center is staffed by a dedicated team of clinical psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and occupational therapists. The therapeutic regime is strictly personalized, using data-driven methods to ensure developmental progress:
| Specialized Service | Clinical Methodology | Practical Target |
| Comprehensive Diagnosis | Multidisciplinary pediatric assessments | Early identification and elimination of misdiagnoses. |
| Speech & Behavior Therapy | Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) protocols | Enhancing communication skills and reducing social anxieties. |
| Occupational Therapy | Sensory integration and motor skills training | Building personal autonomy in daily self-care routines. |
| Vocational Lifeskills | Training in computer literacy, arts, and crafts | Equipping older youth with paths toward economic independence. |
Strategic Vision and Provincial Expansion Plans
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said in his speech that the Sindh government is very keen on establishing this system throughout Sindh. After the success of four main outpatient hospitals in Karachi, the satellite C-ARTS centres are already established in fully working order in Shaheed Benazirabad, Sukkur, Larkana, Gambat and Hyderabad. The centres provide free therapies, transport and student stipends. The government’s roadmap includes adding 13 more specialized units across various districts.
First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, while interacting with the children and staff, emphasized that autism is not a boundary to a child’s capabilities. She reaffirmed that providing the infrastructure to turn these children into respected, self-reliant members of society remains a primary duty of the state.
