Punjab Minister for Schools Education Murad Raas has said that the Punjab government has given particular attention to the promotion of education in the new budget. He expressed these views while addressing the Spirit of Math Conference 2018 here on Thursday. Students and education experts from Canada, US and Pakistan attended the ceremony. “Pakistani students are a symbol of bright future and basis for sustained national development and providing necessary guidance and training to students on modern lines will help to materialise the dream of a prosperous and developed Pakistan.” He said that the Punjab government was giving special attention to research and qualitative approach had been employed so that students could continuously improve their knowledge. Murad Raas said that education was not limited to studying textbooks only but its real purpose was to broaden the intellectual ken of students. He said that 21st century carries multiple challenges for the students and added that IT is the key to success in this era of challenges. This requires that students should be fully empowered to deal with new challenges, he added. He said that the dream of a new Pakistan could not be materialized without education. The minister welcomed the holding of the conference and hoped that the event would benefit students in a number of ways. Talking to the media later, he said school libraries would be transformed by the Schools Education Department and they would be made user-friendly so that students could take maximum benefit. It would also rekindle the desire of extra knowledge in them, he said. Former minister Imran Masood, Kimberley Lagen and international experts also addressed the ceremony. Published in Daily Times, October 19th 2018.