The crisis of one kind or the other has almost become a routine in our country. But we have not been able to organise ourselves to handle any--not by the look of the way we handled the latest. Why is it that we are always found helpless, both in paucity of equipment and alacrity of personnel, whenever the nature hits us? The recent Air Blue plane crash is a case in point. The crash took place within 10 kilometres of the capital of Pakistan. But the rescue teams were still found struggling to reach the site of crash. The delay that was caused may have made a difference of life and death for someone in a tragedy that none survived. Of course, the jungle was thick and the sight obscure but a better, speedier response was certainly possible but not available. We spend billions in giving our regiment of ministers these flashy, bullet-proof cars and accompanying security vehicles for their entourages but we cannot bring ourselves to buy the equipment that helps in disaster situation in the rough. Why? -AMJAD H. MIRZA, Lahore, July 30.