The proof of the pudding lies in its eating. Billions of rupees have gone down the drain in Karachi whose corrupt system, of bhatta and rishwat, has failed every attempt to improve the city's civic amenities. Recent rains in Karachi have exposed the level of corruption that prevails within the system of awarding city contracts and their execution and approval for opening. A recent World Bank report shows that Karachi is second only to Islamabad in terms of corruption in the civic departments. It is an unfortunate reality that various provincial and city government functionaries share a penchant for corruption across the political divide. Corruption afflicts Karachi like a cancer. Street crime in Karachi is worse than any other province except maybe Swat or Buner. Look at North Karachi which was built decades ago and functions smoothly even today. It is one of those areas where water drainage works efficiently, even during the present heavy rains, when rest of Karachi's drainage system is choked to the nose. What is needed in Karachi is commitment, integrity and transparency, not rhetoric and slogan-mongering. The citizens of Karachi are responsible for their predicament, for they have failed to make right choices or stand up to protest against the curse of corruption. -NAZEER ABRO, Hyderabad, via e-mail, July 19.