PM Imran assures welfare of persons with autism on awareness day

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday assured parents and teacher of a policy to facilitate autistic individuals and to cater to their welfare.

In a tweet, the premier said there is global recognition of the immense potential of those with autism.

Today on #WorldAutismAwarenessDay there is global recognition not only of Autism but also the immense potential of persons with Autism. I want to assure parents & teachers we will have a policy that ensures welfare of persons with Autism & allows them to realise their potential.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 2, 2019

April 2 is recognised as World Autism Awareness Day.

Autism isn’t a single disorder but a complex group of conditions, varying in degree and symptoms. It is generally associated with communication difficulties, repetitive behaviours and limited interests. These symptoms are more identifiable starting between two to three years of age. The disability ranges from mild to severe, but treatment can positively affect their abilities.



Autism in Pakistan

According to Autism Resource Centre, 345,600 people are estimated to be living with autism in the country. However, the condition is thought to be severely underreported as a lack of diagnostic capability and general dearth of experts, increase the chances of misdiagnosis. Hence the actual figure is thought to be considerably high.