Pakistan, April 3 -- Every child deserves to be understood, not just seen. For thousands of children across Pakistan living with autism, that simple recognition is still a daily struggle.

While exact numbers are hard to pin down, estimates suggest that over 350,000 children in Pakistan are on the autism spectrum. But despite the scale, autism remains widely misunderstood. Parents are often left to navigate a confusing maze of misinformation, judgment, and scarce resources-all while fighting to give their child a fair shot at life. Some steps forward have been taken. In October 2024, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced the province's first government-run autism school in Lahore. The government also launched the "Himat Card...