Karachi received a heavy spell of monsoon that lasted a few hours, and, as happens almost always, the lack of a proper drainage system converted this natural weather event into a large-scale calamity that even took a few precious lives. Major arteries, including Sharea Faisal, M.A. Jinnah Road and University Road, got inundated within no time, and a number of residential areas were left waist-deep in water. Although the administration announced an emergency, and sent clean-up squads, such short-term remedial measures are seriously insufficient. Karachi needs a permanent solution that may enable the city to at least endure seasonal rains.
RAHIMA BAIG
KARACHI