THIS is apropos of the letter 'Untapped mineral deposits in Balochistan' (June 18). The writer seems to be ignorant of the ground realities of Balochistan.

Though the mineral wealth of Balochistan has remained unexploited, the people of Balochistan cannot be held responsible for it. It is the ill-policies of the federal government that should be blamed for the miseries that the people of Balochistan face.

The people of Balochistan have welcomed the development process and the tapping of mineral wealth in their province, but they have not benefited from it. An example of this is the discovery of Sui gas fields in 1952. The gas that was discovered in Balochistan finally reached the province itself in 1984, the use of which was restricted to the cantonment area.

Even now, barring a few districts, most of the areas in the province are deprived of this precious natural resource.

How can any kind of exploration of resources be allowed if it would deprive the very province of its resources? If any exploration of mineral deposits in Balochistan should take place, the policy of 'colonisation' should be changed first.

SAAD KHOSA
Quetta