Join me for a heartfelt conversation with Mrs. Parveen Tawab, the visionary force behind Rising Sun Institute, Pakistan’s leading institution for the education and inclusion of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
What began in 1984, in her dining room with just two children, has grown into an inspiring organization serving over 850 enrolled students with a wide range of special needs.
In recognition of her extraordinary work and lifelong dedication to children with disabilities, Mrs. Tawab was awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan’s highest civilian honors. Her commitment has transformed not only the lives of thousands of children but also how society views and values them.
One moment from our interview that really stayed with me was when she shared the story of how it all began. She described seeing a mother crying helplessly because her child couldn’t cope in a regular school and had nowhere to go. That moment deeply moved her—and honestly, it deeply moved me too.
As Mrs. Tawab put it: “The mother looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, ‘There’s no place for my child in this world.’ That broke me—I knew I had to do something.”
Hearing that firsthand was emotional. It reminded me how one person’s compassion can become a lifeline for so many others. This conversation is a window into that journey—how empathy became action, and how action became a movement that continues to uplift lives across Pakistan.
