Peshawar – Punjab’s Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz, recently inaugurated a government-run Autism Center and claimed it to be Pakistan’s first, many were quick to point out the inaccuracy of this statement. Long before this, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had already established a state-of-the-art Autism Center in Peshawar’s posh locality of Hayatabad, Phase 5.
The center was designed to provide world-class facilities for children with autism and offer hope to struggling parents.However, like many other public institutions, this center too has fallen victim to rampant corruption and mismanagement, turning what should have been a sanctuary for children into a hub of fraud and exploitation.
Despite its existence, most parents remain unaware of its services—not due to lack of demand but because those running the center have deliberately kept it obscure.
Instead of serving the public, the facility has been converted into a private business enterprise, where government resources are misused, and personal profits take precedence over public welfare.
The most appalling aspect of this scandal is that the head of this Autism Center has no expertise in child psychology, therapy, or autism care. Instead, he holds a master’s degree in criminology—an utterly irrelevant qualification for such a sensitive role. Reports suggest that his appointment was the result of political connections and financial kickbacks, a grim reflection of the broader issues plaguing Pakistan’s public sector institutions.
Inside the facility, a deceptive illusion of productivity is maintained. At first glance, it appears as though the center is bustling with activity—dozens of shoes are neatly placed outside various rooms to suggest that they are occupied with sessions and treatments.
In reality, these rooms remain empty, and staff members are either absent or engaged in personal leisure. Parents who arrive with the hope of getting their children admitted are met with rudeness and outright dismissal, particularly by female staff members who are reportedly instructed to discourage inquiries. They are often told that government resources are inadequate, forcing them to seek private treatment instead.
The corruption runs deeper than mere negligence. Within the very walls of this government center, parents are charged exorbitant fees under the guise of “private treatment.
” This blatant misuse of public resources highlights the alarming extent of institutional corruption. Multiple sources indicate that officials within the Autism Center are actively promoting private medical institutions, particularly the Rehman Medical Institute (RMI), a high-end private hospital in Peshawar. Allegedly, staff members receive hefty commissions, luxury gifts, and bribes in exchange for directing parents towards RMI’s expensive autism treatment programs. Even more disturbingly, there are allegations of large-scale embezzlement of funds allocated for therapy, training, and medical equipment.
Instead of being used for their intended purpose, these funds are either pocketed by officials or squandered on unnecessary expenditures. Some insiders claim that recruitment within the center is also plagued by bribery and nepotism, leading to the hiring of completely unqualified individuals who neither have the skill nor the inclination to work with autistic children.
Despite being equipped with advanced diagnostic machines and therapy tools imported specifically for autism treatment, the facility remains largely nonfunctional. Either the equipment is never used, or it is intentionally left inoperative to justify referring patients to private institutions. Staff members reportedly convince parents that government services are inadequate, pushing them towards high-cost private alternatives. Several parents have also reported being charged extra fees for fake reports and unnecessary medical tests.
The most shocking revelation is that the center lacks qualified professionals for autism assessments. Parents who bring their children for diagnosis are told to travel all the way to Islamabad for tests, where they are charged thousands of rupees—an outrageous burden for families who should have received free assessments within the government facility itself. The exposure of this scandal has sparked a wave of anger among parents and concerned citizens.
Many are now urging Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Secretary, Shahab Ali Shah, known for his integrity, to take immediate action against the corrupt officials responsible for this mess. There is a strong demand for:.. A full-scale audit of the Autism Center’s finances to uncover the extent of embezzlement. An investigation into staff appointments to ensure that only qualified professionals are employed. Legal action against those found guilty of misusing public funds and exploiting desperate parents.
A crackdown on collusion with private medical institutions to put an end to the unethical practice of referring patients for financial gain. The Autism Center in Peshawar was meant to be a beacon of hope for children with special needs and their families.
Instead, it has become a symbol of corruption and greed. If immediate action is not taken, countless children will continue to suffer, and the very purpose of this institution will be lost. The government must act now to reclaim this center from the hands of self-serving officials and restore it to its original mission: providing genuine support, care, and treatment to children with autism.
