QUETTA, Dec 23: The government of Balochistan has decided to take up with the federal government the issue of its constitutional quota of 6.2 per cent in federal services, government institutions and autonomous bodies.

A delegation of employees of federal government departments, Pakistan International Airlines, Steel Mills and Foreign Office during a recent meeting with Chief Minister Aslam Raisani informed him about what they called the policy of discrimination being pursued against the people of Balochistan.

Mr Raisani directed the officials concerned to prepare a case for discussion with Islamabad.

The employees told Dawn that PIA, federal departments and autonomous bodies were not implementing the Balochistan quota.

Sources said that there were around 50 general managers of group 10 in PIA, but not a single officer from Balochistan was considered for the post and seniority was ignored. Among 15 directors, there was no one from Balochistan.

“Every year officers from Balochistan are interviewed by the PIA management for selection to handle Haj pilgrims in Jeddah and Madina, but they never get a chance,” the sources said.

They also complained that no officer or employee from Balochistan had been given a foreign posting for a long time.

The chief minister assured the delegation that he would take up the issue with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and heads of the departments and corporations.