Abid Lashari highlights critical shortage of rehabilitation facilities for children with intellectual disabilities in Pakistan

HYDERABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Feb, 2026) Abid Lashari, President of the National Disability & Development Forum (NDF) Pakistan and Focal Person on Human Rights for Persons with Disabilities, Sindh, highlighted the critical shortage of rehabilitation facilities for children with intellectual disabilities in Pakistan during the solidarity hour at the Asia Pacific Regional CSOs Engagement and Mechanism (APRCEM) meeting in Bangkok.

Mr Lashari stated that rehabilitation services for children with intellectual disabilities remain extremely limited across Pakistan, creating a major gap in early intervention, therapy, and inclusive development support.

“Rehabilitation facilities for children with intellectual disabilities in Pakistan are very limited. This is a major gap, as only a small number of institutions are working to provide rehabilitation services for these children,” he emphasized.

Sharing his personal journey, Mr Lashari recounted that he himself acquired disability due to a fire incident in his home during childhood.

He paid tribute to his mother, who led his rehabilitation process despite not being a trained therapist.

“A mother is the greatest therapist in the world,” he remarked, highlighting the powerful role of family support in rehabilitation and inclusion.

He further shared that today NDF Pakistan is providing free rehabilitation services to hundreds of children with disabilities across multiple districts of Sindh, including physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychotherapy, and special education support.

These services are being implemented in collaboration with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD), Government of Sindh.

Mr Lashari called on governments, development partners, and civil society across the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen rehabilitation systems, expand community-based services, and ensure equitable access for children with disabilities.

He stressed that rehabilitation is not charity, but a fundamental right and a prerequisite for dignity, independence, and social participation.