KARACHI: President Ayub Khan last evening declared “the foundation of our economic development has been soundly laid and with trust in God we can look to the future with robust confidence.” Addressing the nation in his first-of-the-month broadcast, the President sounded very happy when he reviewed the country’s developing economy and said, “through the strength imparted to the revenue budget during the post-revolution period, it has become increasingly possible for us to mobilise our own resources for financing the devolvement of the country and to that extent lessen our dependence on outside assistance”.

But, he warned, “all this does not imply complacency. It means and calls for sounder planning, sounder administration and much harder work on the part of all of us. After all, building a nation is not an easy task. It entails several sacrifices.” — Special Representative

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies from Saigon] Viet-Cong guerrillas destroyed seven US aircraft and killed a USAF Policeman in a mortar attack on the Da Nang airbase. Several other Americans were wounded in the barrage and four jets were damaged in addition to the seven destroyed. (In Moscow, the Soviet news agency ‘Tass’ said today [July 1] that four Americans were killed and 28 planes destroyed or damaged in the attack). Rockets set off by the mortar barrage exploded among U.S. Marine tents beside the runway.

The attack on Da Nang — the major U.S. airbase in south Viet-Nam — was similar to that staged on Bien Hoa airbase, 12 miles northeast of Saigon, when more than a score of American aircraft were destroyed or damaged. Da Nang, 375 miles northeast of here and about 90 miles from the North Viet-Namese border, is guarded by some 9,000 U.S. Marines.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2015

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