The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has made a significant contribution to the welfare of children with autism by establishing pre-vocational training areas at the Sindh Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (SIPMR). This initiative aims to help integrate children with autism into society and provide them with foundational skills for future vocational opportunities.
The newly renovated pre-vocational training areas, equipped with modern furniture and electronic equipment, were officially inaugurated by Dursun Ali Yaşacan, Head of TİKA’s East and South Asia, Pacific, and Latin America (DOGAL) Department, and Cemal Sangu, the Turkish Consul General in Karachi. During his remarks, Yaşacan emphasized TİKA’s global efforts to support disadvantaged groups, stating that the agency is committed to improving lives through such projects.
He expressed satisfaction in contributing to the success of the Sindh Institute. Consul General Sangu, after touring the facility, commended the services provided by the Institute, which caters to individuals with autism. He also expressed gratitude to TİKA for selecting the Institute for this project and thanked the staff for their continuous dedication. Dr. Irum Rizwan, Head of the Institute, highlighted the increasing global prevalence of autism, with one in every 100 children in Pakistan being diagnosed. She praised TİKA’s support in providing these children with opportunities to integrate into normal life. A mother of a beneficiary, whose child has received rehabilitation services at the Institute, thanked TİKA and the Turkish people for their invaluable support.
Shared that the vocational training had helped her son acquire new skills and secure employment. The Sindh Institute, Pakistan’s first training hospital for children with autism, serves around 150 children daily, offering rehabilitation, vocational training in crafts, lamination, cooking, and academic education.
