On World Autism Awareness Day, April 3, 2026, Maroof International Hospital brought together staff, families and guests for an Autism Awareness Walk on its Islamabad campus to promote acceptance and autism inclusion.
The event was attended by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to Pakistan, Rongvudhi Virabutr, who spoke at the Maroof Early Intervention Therapy Unit (EITU). He said ‘Early diagnosis can change a child’s entire future. We must move beyond pity and focus on creating opportunities for every child to live with dignity.’ The ambassador highlighted social barriers, described Thailand’s Steps with Theera vocational initiative and reaffirmed Thailand’s support for autism care in Pakistan.
Haroon Naseer, CEO of Maroof International Hospital, said awareness is a shared responsibility and underlined the need to build systems that nurture potential so every child can thrive. His remarks stressed translating awareness into tangible services that advance autism inclusion across Pakistan.
Dr. Mir Waheed, Medical Director, compared timely intervention to emergency care and urged that awareness must prompt immediate action to improve outcomes for children with autism.
Tehreem Khan Bangash outlined services at the EITU, saying children benefit from Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, individualized education and behavior plans, parent counseling, social skills training and vocational life skills programmes offered on site.
The event featured a symbolic walk inside hospital grounds and a certificate presentation to EITU professionals by the ambassador, recognising their dedication. Organisers and attendees reiterated that public awareness should lead to policy support, expanded early intervention and broader autism inclusion so children in Pakistan can access education, communication and work opportunities.
