LAHORE: Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who arrived here today [July 23] from Larkana visited the flood-affected areasinLahore,SialkotandSheikhpura districts for over six hours. Flying straightaway to the flood-affected areas by a helicopter, after his arrival at the airport here, the Prime Minister made halts at Narowal, Sialkot, Chaprar and Mangtanwala.

During his stay at these places, the Prime Minister was apprised of the damage, caused by the floods, by the people`s representatives and officials. He also met the local people there, and listened to their problems... . .

The Prime Minister said that he would announcehelpfromtheFederalGovernment after assessing the needs and estimating the damages. News agencies [Meanwhile, according to news agencies in Jerusalem,] Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin declared tonight [July 23] that Israel will not sign a further interim agreement with Egypt unless it is preceded by direct face-to-face negotiations between Egypt and Israel. (Egyptian President Anwar el Sadat only today affirmed in Cairo that there would be no direct negotiations between Egypt and Israel in any form. ...)