Mohammad Azhar Khwaja in his letter (The Nation July 29) talks about the monsoon farce. May I remind him that Mian Shahbaz Sharif in his first tenure had instituted a state-of-the-art system for tackling monsoons? Three months before the monsoon season, all pumping machinery and other equipment was required to be in working order. Any replacements or new equipment had to be ordered to ensure receipt in time for commissioning well before the monsoons. Desilting of drains was a year round practice ensuring free flow of storm water and sewage. Any manhole going missing could only be at the pain of a dismissal. Apart from the directly concerned officials, other district officers and even SHOs were required to be on night duty during a rainstorm. All roads had to be cleared of tree branches or any other obstructions before the dawn of morning to facilitate traffic for office and school going public. This system was seen to be believed. The farce started after he left. -KHURSHID ANWER, Lahore Cantt., via e-mail, July 29.