QUETTA, July 25: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf has announced that Ushr and Abiana would not be collected from poor growers and zamindars of the cyclone- and flood-affected districts of the province until their rehabilitation.

Speaking at ceremonies in Nasirabad and Jaffarabad districts on Wednesday, he assured that President General Pervez Musharraf would be requested to write off agriculture loans and power dues outstanding against the farmers.

He said the province had already been declared a calamity-hit area. Therefore, the government would not collect Ushr and Abiana until the complete rehabilitation of flood victims.

He said that President Musharraf had a soft corner for Balochistan and had always helped out the people of the province. Balochistan was passing through a difficult phase as cyclone and floods caused massive destruction and in this situation the opposition parties should come forward for taking part in the rehabilitation work, instead of trying to make political gains.

The chief minister said the Army, the FC, district administrations and the provincial departments concerned had played an important role in rescue and relief operations. He said his government had utilised all available resources and would seek help and assistance for the rehabilitation of the people who had lost everything in the floods.

He said a survey was under way to estimate losses caused by the cyclone and floods. The agriculture and livestock sectors were badly affected.