Sir: This refers to the story “Sindh, Balochistan unable to produce sufficient talent” by Mr Tahir Niaz (Daily Times, May 28, 2012). The story mentions that the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) had not been able to find the required number of qualified people from the Sindh and Balochistan provinces to fill vacancies in various occupational groups. Besides the fact that competitive examinations conducted by the FPSC cannot be the only criteria for measuring talent, the FPSC report vindicates the long held view that the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan are grossly underrepresented in the Federal Services. There is nothing genetically wrong with people of any race or region anywhere in the world as regards the distribution of talent among its people is concerned. The real reasons have to be looked into very seriously. The very fact that people from Sindh are doing so well in independent professions locally and internationally gives a lot of credence to the apprehension that these provinces are being discriminated against in government jobs. We also cannot ignore that the struggle against despotic regimes for rights, freedoms and democracy has been most intense in these two provinces, giving rise to basic contradictions when opportunities within the establishment are taken into account. That however does not rule out the most pressing need of improving educational standards right from the primary level to the postgraduate level in our universities. We in Sindh are making the most positive efforts in these areas, both in policy and budgetary allocations. TAJ HAIDER Via e-mail