PRESIDENT Asif Zardari's assurance to President Jamhoori Watan Party Talal Bugti in Islamabad on Sunday, that a probe would be conducted into the killing of his father Nawab Akbar Bugti and that those found guilty would be given exemplary punishment, is commendable indeed. Equally heartening was his pledge to speed up the socio-economic uplift of the province. Mr Bugti, during a press conference, while hailing what the President has promised, stressed the need to take practical steps to end the prevailing resentment among the people of Balochistan. There is no doubt that assurances of the sort would expedite the reconciliation process, but the fact is that the government has not taken any tangible step to assuage their grievances. Mr Zardari tendered an apology to the Baloch for the excesses they had been subjected to, but did little to proceed with redressing them. The promise to call an All Parties Conference to go into the issue of these grievances has not been fulfilled. Similarly, the recommendations of the parliamentary committee on Balochistan formed under the previous government are lying unattended. In the meanwhile, the Gwadar port has become operational for business. It is without doubt a welcome development, but the authorities should also be listening to Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani, who has demanded that the province ought to be given the rightful share of its resources. His view reflected the general feeling in Balochistan that it was not benefiting from the exploitation of its resources. That crucial question must be addressed and a sense of belonging instilled before the widespread discontentment could go away. Mr Bugti's charter of demands that includes ending the military operation, compensation to the refugees belonging to Kohlu, Marri and Dera Bugti and grant of adequate royalty on Sui and other gas fields, must receive due consideration without delay. Mere apologies and sloganeering would hardly serve the purpose.