QUETTA: President Mohammad Ayub Khan yesterday inaugurated the water supply project completed by army engineers and soldiers at Walitangi, about 20 miles from here, in the record time of 11 working months.

The dam, construction of which was declared uneconomical in 1946 by the then government of India, will augment water supply to Quetta town and cantonment.

President Ayub, paying tribute to the engineers and sappers for extreme devotion, said the dam had added another chapter to the numerous examples of the Pakistan Army’s service to the people.

The President described the completion of the project as a big step towards overcoming water shortage in this part of the country. The government, he added, was already working on various irrigation schemes in Quetta and Kalat divisions, and hoped that their completion would help bring 10 lakh acres of land under irrigation.

He said the Quetta-Kalat region had one of the most fertile lands, but because of the shortage of water the land was lying unutilised. He, however, hoped that after water was made available in abundance to the people, growth of fruit gardens could be taken in hand which ultimately would better the socio-economic condition of the people in this region.

Champion swimmer back in Karachi KARACHI: Brojen Das, Pakistan’s English Channel swimming hero, returned home early yesterday after having conquered the 20-odd miles of the turbulent water-strip between England and France twice more than any man in history.

Brojen, who in September had crossed the English Channel twice within a fortnight and in the fastest-ever of 10 hours 35 minutes, credited all his achievements to “the patronage of the government and the blessings of my countrymen”.

Though tired after his night-long journey, the champion swimmer was in high spirits to have retuned home “after having done something for the country”. On arrival, he was welcomed by members of the Karachi Sportsmen Association.