Transformation of Knowledge Repository into Knowledge Economy

Minhaj University Lahore Department of Library & Information Sciences in collaboration with Pakistan Librarian welfare Organisation(PLWO) in coherence with Knowledge Partners Pearson, Springer and Emerald Publishing has initiated two days mega- conference, first session on September 19th at Minhaj University Lahore.
Dr Muhammad Aslam Ghauri, Vice-Chancellor in his welcome address said,’’ Hope this conference will be the university’s initiative of a hallmark milestone in the sphere of library & Information sciences and collaborations to promote the basic objectives of libraries in this age of technologies. I extend from the core of my heart to all participants, distinguished guests and international speakers for sparing their precious time to grace this conference with utmost interest and enthusiasm.”
Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal, Minister of Information Punjab stressed, ’In Pakistan, the sector of Information Technology is yet undeveloped. The present government on the pattern of “Ease of Doing Business” strategies are coining ways to uplift this sector especially in sphere of Library and information sciences on new-fangled ways.’’
Raja Yasir Humayun Sarfaraz, Minister of Higher Education endorsed the efforts of Minhaj University Lahore to always conduct such productive conferences which provide immense opportunities for the participants to assimilate knowledge by interacting with international and national speakers. He added, ’It is integral to promote research culture in an educational system which is only possible to upgrade the importance of libraries with latest technologies.’’
Dr.Fazal Khalid, Chairman Higher Education Commission said that PHEC is exploring all ventures to give a blend of modern knowledge to the private sector by creating new forums  and by the digital revolution and thus striving  to bring government on one page for fostering the resources to make accessible modern knowledge to remote areas of Pakistan.”
Mr.Kazim Ali Syed, Chief Organizer (PLWO) thanked Minhaj University for providing the grand platform to share experiences of International & National speakers and to reflect upon and review the latest trends in the sector of libraries.
Mr Salim Razi, a Keynote speaker, Vice Dean,(Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Turersity, Turkey) emphasized on the need, ’to provide real samples cases from predatory journals and conferences to highlight the primary aim of accruing financial profit rather than contributing to the production of knowledge. This would promote institutional integrity by discriminating predatory publishers.”
Dr Muhammad Shahid Soroya Pro-Vice-Chancellor said, ’this conference will play indeed a significant role to reflect the multidisciplinary systems from initial concepts to the modelling and simulation of the role of librarians and their actual implementations in universities.
Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud- Din Qadri ,Deputy Chairman BOG- MUL  while expressing words of thanks to all said, Minhaj University objectives of such conferences is to furnish a chance to get to know the fresh ideas of scholarly respectability and role of libraries, and to look into ways of improving the scholarly use of ICTs in libraries and interdisciplinary collaborative activities.
The conference proceeded with Panel Discussions with Topic bearing,’’ Bridging the Gaps Between Theory and Practice.”  The Panelists, Dr. Khalid Mahmoud  (University of Punjab) Prof. Dr Rubina Bhatti(Islamia University, Bahawalpur)Dr.Muhammad Tariq(COMSATS,Lahore) Dr.Haroon Idrees( University of Sargohada) Syed Ghayour Hussain(Director-General, National Library Pakistan concluded that due to drastic changes in world landscapes, overlapping of Disciplines, life styles practices and in our spectrum of studies it is time that we should try to bridge the gap between theory and practice with modern technology.’’
Mr.Zaheer Ahmad the Conference Secretary expressed his gratitude to all the participants , distinguished Guests and folded his expressions by saying,"Minhaj University is conducting this conference with clairvoyance contemplation that it would culminate to foster cooperation and collaboration among stakeholders, challenges, debates, learning and optimizing the contribution of scholarly research, innovative over-growing programs and novel strategies in academia of libraries
Dr.Saira Hanif Soroya,Assistant Professor Punjab University felt delighted to be in the galaxy of Intellectuals and remarked"
It is relatively pathetic to note that in this era of ever-growing technology, the relationship between libraries and the prospective readers is deteriorating gradually. Ostensibly, this mega Conference would strengthen, reinforce and revitalize the role of Liberians and information professionals to support and create a methodology of libraries that caters users’ needs and wants."