KARACHI: Renowned autism specialist Irum Rizwan on Wednesday was awarded prestigious Tamgha-i-Imtiaz for her exceptional services, excellence, and commitment to reshape the landscape of autism care in the country.
Governor Sindh Syed Nehal Hashmi conferred Tamgha-i-Imtiaz on Irum Rizwan on behalf of President Asif Ali Zardari at a ceremony at the Governor House.
Currently overseeing the first-ever residential facility for autism in Pakistan, Ms Rizwan stands as a trailblazer in the field of autism in Pakistan.
Armed with a Postgraduate degree from the University of Birmingham, UK, and world-class training from the UK and the US, she has transformed the lives of over 3,000 individuals with Autism, reshaping the landscape of autism care in the country.
In 2013, she established a state-of-the-art Autism department at Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, the first of its kind in any teaching hospital in Pakistan.
Recognizing her unparalleled expertise, the Government of Sindh entrusted her with the development of the Center for Autism and Rehabilitation Training Sindh (C-ARTS) in 2018. What began as a single center in Gulistan-e-Johar, Karachi, soon flourished into a network of premier autism facilities. With an unyielding commitment to excellence, she spearheaded the establishment of state-of-the-art centers in Orangi Town (2023), Sukkur (2024), Gambat (2024), Hyderabad (2024) and a facility for Autism Adults in Korangi (2022), providing free-of-cost, world-class services encompassing diagnosis, rehabilitation, education, skill training, and employment opportunities.
C-ARTS stands as Pakistan’s first and only government-run autism network, setting a gold standard in inclusive care and rehabilitation.
Among its groundbreaking initiatives is Pakistan’s first café managed by individuals with Autism, a revolutionary step toward empowerment and independence.
