This year, the heavy monsoon rains and subsequent floods have once again exposed the lack of preparation of federal and provincial governments. No contingency plans seemed in place in the initial days nor did the rulers and their administration have any clue about a thing called crisis prevention. No safe points were designated on high ground and food stocks in the affected districts often did not cover the immediate needs. In the coming days, once we are past the urgent task of saving lives and arranging for shelter and food, the country would need to seriously look at the systemic shortcomings that aggravated the natural calamity and caused so many unnecessary losses. Disaster prevention plans would have to be drawn on the federal, provincial and district basis and their implementation in the medium-term ensured. Events of extreme vagaries of weather are hitting Pakistan with increasing regularity and intensity. The nation would do well to learn from them in these moments of reflection. -MAZHAR MUGHAL, France, August 23.