KARACHI: President Mamnoon Hussain has said that stronger educational base in engineering and technology could play a vital role in the country`s development, prosperity and economic growth.

Speaking at the 27th convocation of the Pakistan Navy Engineering College (PNEC) at the Bahria auditorium on Thursday, he praised the participation of PNEC students in reflecting softer and progressive image of the country at the international level through student exchange programmes, motor sports, andresearch and development.

He said that considering the importance of education, the first two objectives of the vision 2025 programme were primary and higher education and to achieve these targets the government was gradually increasing education budget to four per cent of the gross domestic product.

Earlier, PNEC Commandant Commodore Dr Nassar Ikram gave a brief introduction of the college and said that eight scholars had completed their doctorate degrees while 35 others were doing PhD at the PNEC.

He said that currently vice chancellors of two engineering universities in thecountry were PNEC graduates.

Some 288 graduates were awarded degrees at the convocation and 43 of them got the master`s degree while the rest got bachelor`s degree in engineering and management information systems.

A total of 33 medals were awarded to position holders, which included 14 president gold medals, three chief of naval staff gold medals, seven rector gold medals, and nine chancellors silver medals.

On his arrival at the venue, President Hussain was received by chief of naval staff Admiral Mohammed Zakaullah and Rector of NUST Engineer Mohammed Asghar.