KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday said that every child deserved access to quality education, therapy and equal opportunities to succeed, pledging the provincial government’s continued support for children with special needs.

Addressing a ceremony organised by the Milestone Charitable Trust at the Milestones Centre for Cognitive and Language Development in Clifton, he said that providing the best possible educational and healthcare services to special children remained a key focus of the provincial government.

He added that the centre was a model institution for inclusive education and pledged his government’s continued support for children with special needs. “The Sindh government will continue to support institutions working for persons with disabilities,” he noted.

According to a press statement issued by the CM House, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD) Secretary Tauha Farooqi and Milestones Trustee Fauzia Javed Hussain received the chief minister upon his arrival at the centre.

Says Sindh govt already patronising Milestones Centre for Cognitive and Language Development

During an extensive tour of the facility, Mr Shah reviewed classrooms, therapy rooms and rehabilitation sections catering to neurodivergent children.

The chief minister spent time interacting with students and teachers, observing therapy sessions and academic activities, and commended the staff for their dedication.

Briefing him, Ms Fauzia said that Milestones was established in 1998 with a mission to empower individuals with Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cerebral palsy, developmental delay, and fragile X syndrome through inclusive education and comprehensive support.

“Unlike other institutes, all our services are provided free of cost to deserving students,” she said, adding that every child received a complete academic and rehabilitative programme that was individually designed based on their needs.

The chief minister said that Milestones was the first bilingual school in Pakistan dedicated exclusively to neurodivergent children, including those with ASD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other developmental challenges.

He highlighted the centre’s student-teacher ratio of two students per teacher, stating that it ensured individualised attention and effective learning outcomes.

He said the DEPD had begun supporting Milestones in 2025. “Since then, the department has assisted the institution by providing specialised equipment and support for operational expenses,” he added.

He added that Milestones had been playing a commendable role in the education, training and rehabilitation of special children for more than two decades. “With the Sindh government’s support, the centre’s educational and therapeutic facilities have significantly improved,” he said.

The CM praised the trust’s initiative of offering fee concessions to deserving families, describing it as highly commendable and in line with the government’s vision of equitable access.

He announced that the provincial government would collaborate with Milestones to establish a modern, state-of-the-art facility to expand its capacity and services. “By investing in the education and rehabilitation of special children, we can build a society where every individual is empowered and provided with equal opportunities to thrive,” he said.

He lauded the commitment of Milestones’ teachers, therapists, and support staff. “Their efforts are helping create a more inclusive and compassionate society,” he said, adding that institutions like Milestones were essential for ensuring that no child is left behind.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2026