President Mamnoon Hussain on Wednesday said educational and research institutes are recognised by their patronage of intellectual development, where new ideas and concepts are promoted to strengthen the foundation of a nation's progress. Addressing the awards ceremony of National Research Programme under the auspices of Higher Education Commission (HEC) here at the Presidency, the President said the nations that focus on research activities never lag behind in development.

The President said the knowledge-based societies use research material not for the purpose of personal gains of a few people, but for the betterment of entire humanity. The President expressed satisfaction that Pakistani researchers were following new ideas in knowledge and learning, setting aside old beliefs. He said such efforts of researchers would help promote the culture of research in universities. President Mamnoon also emphasised close collaboration between research institutes and industry in the country. He said close linkages would help researchers know the contemporary needs of industry, also giving their evaluative studies a right direction to yield substantive results.

The President felicitated the researchers for approval of their proposals and said their efforts would make the Pakistani society a hub of knowledge and learning. This would reconnect the new generation with the lost tradition of their ancestors in the realms of research-oriented studies, as the weakening of this legacy has resulted in rise of social problems, he added.

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