BADIN, Aug 7: President Gen Pervez Musharraf underlined the need for putting in massive efforts for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the rains and flood affected areas of Sindh.

Addressing the district Nazims, elected representatives and officials of Tharparkr, Thatta and Badin district here on Thursday, he told them to ensure the provision of relief goods to all victims without any discrimination.

Referring to a request from growers, the president assured them that he would ask the Agriculture Development Bank to write off loans in the affected areas. He said if it was not possible, at least the recovery should be postponed. He directed the ADBP to stop recovery from affected growers.

He said the Khushali Bank would be asked to provide loans to affected growers on easy instalments so that they could restart cultivating their lands.

Commenting on the complaint about the ill-designing of the Left Bank Outfall Drain project that had played havoc in Badin, he said technical experts would be invited from Wapda to ascertain the fault.

He said the elected representatives should make all out efforts to assess the losses in the province and told the district Nazims and district coordination officers to ensure transparency in the distribution of relief goods.

Gen Musharraf asked Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad to approach the philanthropists in Karachi to seek their cooperation in carrying out the rehabilitation work.

Pointing out the flow of 10 MAF water from the Kotri Barrage to the sea, the president said if the country had Kalabagh, Bhasha or other dams, this wastage could be avoided and water could be stored.

The president was critical of the propaganda against the Thal, Reni and Katchi canal projects and said these canals were being built for the poor of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan.

He said the vested interest had been engaged in negative propaganda that Punjab was usurping the rights of Sindh. No injustice was being done by Punjab to Sindh, said the president, adding that Sindh would get its due share of water.

The president told the Human Development Forum to establish its educational centres in Sindh, particularly in Thatta and Badin.

He handed over keys of 20 trucks loaded with relief goods to the Nazims of Badin, Tando Bagho and Golarchi.

BRIEFING: Earlier, Gen Musharraf attended a briefing about the losses caused by rains and floods in Badin, Thatta and Tharparkar districts. The General Officer Commanding of Hyderabad gave the briefing about the relief and rehabilitation work being carried out by various agencies.