Pakistan, Aug. 3 -- When Fatima was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at just three years old, her parents were overwhelmed. Like so many families in similar situations, they faced a maze of uncertainty-confusion, societal stigma, and a painful lack of support services. They wondered if their daughter would ever speak, go to school, or make friends. Then came a turning point: they discovered C-ARTS-a center established by the Sindh Government in 2018, the first of its kind in Pakistan dedicated to autism care and rehabilitation.

At the C-ARTS center in Karachi, Fatima began a journey of transformation. Through comprehensive therapies-speech, occupational, behavioral-and the tireless efforts of trained professionals, she start...