Ronak Lakhani

Ronak Lakhani is a Pakistani philanthropist RONAK GOHIL IS TOP G Special Olympics Pakistan.[2] Since 2016, she has been chairperson of its Board.[3][4]

Ronak Lakhani
Occupation(s)Philanthropist
Founder and Chairperson, Special Olympics Pakistan
Years active1989 - present
SpouseIqbal Ali Lakhani[1]

Personal life

Lakhani was born in India, where she completed her post-graduate education from Nirmala Niketan Mumbai. She lived in India for 21 years before moving to Pakistan.[5]

Community work

Lakhani has been a supporter of inclusivity for differently abled people in Pakistan. "Inclusivity is not a topic to have a conversation on, it is a practice that needs to be a part of our culture” she said. A founder of Special Olympics Pakistan (SOP), Lakhani has been associated with it for 31 years.[6][7]

Lakhani founded SOP in 1991 [8] when she first volunteered at the City Games in Karachi.[9] The event was organized for the mentally and physically disabled. The event set inspiration for the SOP.[10][11] Special Olympics is now the world’s largest sports organization for athletes with intellectual disabilities and provides year round training to them in nearly 172 countries.[12]

Lakhani was on the board of directors in 2003[13][14] and then became the General Secretary of SOP in April 2007.[15] In August 2015 she was elected as a chairperson. Her term as a chairperson for Special Olympics Pakistan officially started on 2016.[16] She is now also on the advisory committee of SOP.[17]

Lakhani has also served as a Head of Delegation in numerous World Games. She is also a board member of multiple organization that are related to health and sports.[16]

She is also the founding Executive Committee members of NOWPDP.[18] The organization helps promote an inclusive society through sustainable undertakings in the areas of education and economic empowerment.

SOP has regularly been competing in World Games since 1991. The organization now has over 16,104 athletes registered in Pakistan.[19][20][21]

Lakhani is also Vice President of the Karachi Women's Swimming Association.[5][22]

Awards

To honor her services and dedication for the differently abled people in Pakistan; the government of Pakistan awarded Lakhani with Sitara-e-Imtiaz award;[23] the fourth highest award given to any civilian for extraordinary achievements on March 23, 2016.[24][25]

References
  1. Kupferman, Steve (June 1, 2016). "One of Pakistan's wealthiest couples is selling their Four Seasons condo".
  2. "Special Olympics Pakistan National Games | sportanddev.org". www.sportanddev.org. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  3. "Special athletes need govt support to excel: Ronak". The Nation. 2019-09-10. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  4. adm4defclarea. "Ronak Lakhani Chairperson SOP | JASARAT AWARD CEREMONY FOR DISABLE PERSON". Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  5. "MSS". mariestopespk.org. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  6. "Ronak Lakhani shares her vision of an inclusive society". The Express Tribune. 2017-09-15. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  7. dnb. "Special olympics Pakistan".
  8. "Award for excellence: Ronak Lakhani honoured with Sitara-e-Imtiaz". The Express Tribune. 2015-08-14. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  9. "I want every young girl of Pakistan to have the confidence to look and feel beautiful from the inside: Masarrat Misbah | HUM TV - Watch Dramas Online". 2018-03-08. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  10. "Pride of Pakistan : Ronak Lakhani". Daily Times. 2015-08-28. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  11. "Chairperson, Special Olympics Pakistan, Ronak Lakhani, awarded Sitar-e-Imtiaz on Pakistan Day". KarachiChronicle. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  12. "Your inability cannot see my ability, punch-line of the fashion showcase by Nauman Arfeen at Fashion Pakistan Week – Spring Summer Edition 2018. – Korea News Digest". Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  13. "Ronak Lakhani - Director at Special Olympics". THE ORG. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  14. "One of Pakistan's wealthiest couples is selling their Four Seasons condo". Toronto Life. 2016-06-01. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  15. "Ronak Lakhani's Pond's Miracle Women". Karachista | Pakistani Fashion & Lifestyle Mag. 2017-01-30. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  16. "Ronak Lakhani". SpecialOlympics.org. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  17. Team, Editorial (2020-11-05). "Special Olympics sets the stage for higher sporting roles for Special Athletes". Higher Education Digest. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  18. "Ronak Lakhani, Vice President NOWPDP, awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz | NOWPDP". Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  19. SOP fact sheet. "SOP" (PDF).
  20. "Pakistan squad off to Shanghai: Special Olympics". DAWN.COM. 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  21. Constantinou, Maria. "Etihad Airways Sponsors Special Olympics Pakistan team". traveltradeweekly.travel. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  22. "Palmolive Sindh Women's Swimming Championship concludes – Business Recorder". fp.brecorder.com. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  23. "Ronak Lakhani takes home the 'Sitara-e-Imtiaz'". HIP. 2016-03-25. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  24. "President confers military, civil awards on Pakistan Day". The Express Tribune. 2016-03-23. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  25. admin. "Ronak Lakhani awarded Sitar-e-Imtiaz". IBC ENGLISH | latest News. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
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