Talking Points

1. It is an immense pleasure for me to be amongst the intellectuals,

academicians, scholars, and professionals of library and information
sciences at this 2nd International Virtual Conference "Transformation of
Knowledge Repository into Knowledge Economy" organized by Pakistan
Library Welfare Organization's (PLWO)
2. Creation and exploitation of knowledge has become a key resource in the
new economy. All advanced economies are technologically knowledge-
based economies.
3. As gateways to knowledge and culture, libraries play a fundamental role in
society. The resources and services they offer create opportunities for
learning, support literacy and education, and help shape the new ideas and
perspectives that are central to a creative and innovative society.
4. In the knowledge economy, libraries can play a strong role in facilitating
access to information; sustaining lifelong learning, strengthening the
knowledge culture, enabling research and international collaboration,
supporting innovation and the commercialization of research, and
advocating to ensure information renewal. Libraries also contribute to
sustaining social change in the knowledge society. They help people
communicate and interact with each other, learn new skills and ways of
abstract thinking, and share cultural experiences in the changing social
environment.
5. Change is the key to acquiring knowledge. To build a knowledge economy,
we must create a culture of sharing knowledge through libraries by bridging
the gap between readers, libraries through our academia. It is only possible
 through self-motivation and self-learning by changing our attitudes and
acknowledging developing libraries in newfangled ways.
6. There should be a binding liaison among library schools, associations, and
librarians. Furthermore, on-the-job training is much needed to meet
information professionals’ challenging role. This requires self-motivation,
an employer’s interest, and encouragement. It is integral that policymakers
should facilitate organisations to redesign their information services and to
fill the vacant positions in different organizations
7. To promote the culture of book reading on modern lines, we must make it
a part of the syllabus at the primary level. In Pakistan, a library means just a
cupboard to keep books. The conditions in government institutes in this
respect are pathetic. It needs to be revolutionized. It is high time for the
government to pay heed to this sector; otherwise, we will be stuck in the
stone age of library culture.
8. I congratulate PLWO for organising this important conference, gathering
national and international experts, researchers, and professionals. These
kinds of activities are actually knowledge-creating and knowledge-sharing
activities. We must strengthen our libraries and rejuvenate the book
reading habits of youth to change their minds and their approach towards
national development. Once again, congratulations to the organizers.