LAHORE: Speakers at an international conference on emerging issues in management sciences on Tuesday observed that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was only a ‘game-changer but also a fate-changer’. The conference was organised at the Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) in which scholars, researchers, educators, students presented their research on development in management sciences. Punjab Higher Education Minister Raza Ali Gillani was the chief guest, while LCWU Vice Chancellor Dr Uzma Qureshi, faculty members and students were also present. While addressing the opening session, Vice Chancellor Dr Uzma Qureshi said that conference would provide an opportunity for academicians and professionals from various universities to share their theoretical knowledge, research findings and educational/management practices with their colleagues and academic community. “In the dynamic and competitive business world of today, management practices are more than mere window-dressing,” she said, adding that by adopting pertinent practices, companies can gain competitive edge, increase their market share and boost shareholder value. She added, “The conference can address emerging issues in management sciences by focusing on all relevant areas that are significant for organisations and can be used to translate an aspiration for long-term business sustainability into practical and effective solutions.” Speakers also expressed that management sciences was a constantly evolving field with a wide variety of formal and informal approaches and perspectives. “New management perspectives are emerging every day in manufacturing sector, services sector as well as in social entrepreneurship. However today, management in business and public sector is fraught with many challenges. From economic instability to talent shortages, a squeeze on profits, regulatory revisions, income inequality, new trade agreements and political change are just a few of the many.” Published in Daily Times, July 19th , 2017.