GUJAR KHAN: President Ayub Khan said here today [Oct 7] that construction of small dams would go a long way in improving agriculture and bringing new land under cultivation in ‘Barani’ areas.

While inaugurating the 71-foot-high Dungi Dam two miles off Gujar Khan and 30 miles from Rawalpindi, the President expressed the hope that it will benefit the farmers of the surrounding area and thus help in the production of more foodgrains.

President Ayub said he was sure that the Dungi Dam, built at a cost of over Rs. 13 lakhs by the Agricultural Development Corporation, would add to the progress and prosperity of the land holders of the area. He advised the landlords owning land above 200 kanals to purchase tractors and take to mechanised farming.

President Ayub inaugurated the Dungi Dam by unveiling a plaque and opening the sluice of the canal regulator. As soon as the President opened the sluice, water started flowing into the two and a half mile canal which would irrigate the ‘Barani’ land of the area.

President Ayub also lifted his hands for prayers and wished the Dam to be a great success and source of economic progress and prosperity for the area. The President then walked up to the Dam and watched the Reservoir and the spillway.

He had a chat with the biggest landlord of the area who owned 600 kanals of land which would be irrigated by the Dungi Dam. The President said, “The water of the dam is very precious. It is worth gold. You must buy tractor to cultivate the land.”

President Ayub asked the Commissioner of the Rawalpindi Division, Mr M.H. Shah, and the Chairman of the Agricultural Development Corporation, Maj-Gen Malik Haq Nawaz, to help landlords purchase tractors.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2017