ISLAMABAD, Feb 23: Leader of Opposition in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani on Wednesday asked the government to declare the rain and flood-affected areas in the NWFP and Balochistan as calamity-hit areas.

In a statement, the PPP leader said it was a matter of concern that the Balochistan government had not yet declared these areas as calamity-hit areas.

"The number of deaths and the extent of damage caused to the people's homes is high and a relaxation in taxes will be of some relief to the people. The province needs resources to rehabilitate the affected people, restore necessary infrastructure and provide housing facility to those whose houses have been washed away."

He said it was unfortunate that the federal government had failed to provide adequate machinery for removal of snow due to which a large number of areas remained without relief and rehabilitation work had still not started there.