Sir: Though rain is a blessing, the monsoon rains prove a curse in Pakistan almost every year due to lack of planning and preparedness. Heavy monsoon floods have once again begun to ravage the nation. The raging waters of the River Indus are making their way into many areas of the country. It is really a sad fact that our leaders do nothing to save their countrymen from the devastating effects of floods every year. They are unable to cope with the scale of the crisis. Every year, vast areas of land are engulfed by floodwater. This floodwater swallows up many lives and damages private and public property worth billions of rupees. It is quite clear that we need dams and reservoirs to save the rural regions of Pakistan. Floods in Pakistan are not a natural disaster; rather it has become a manmade disaster because every year, flooding occurs in the months of July to August but the concerned authorities do not take necessary measures to avert this tragedy. It is the need of the hour to put theories and rhetoric into practice, devising a strong strategy for the betterment of our country. NASIR SOOMROHyderabad