The US science fiction film 12:01, released in 1993, discusses the protagonist’s life when he lives the same day multiple times without knowing how to end thE time loop. He keeps living all moments of a specific day until he begins foretelling future events. The Karachi-ites are perhaps living in a similar time loop whenever the city experiences monsoon rains. The rainy season in Karachi is not the one for the faint-hearted. It brings chaos and panic. Lanes, alleys and streets are inundated with rainwater, pavements become invisible, drivers rush to their homes, and nearly one-third of roads are filled with water. Motorcyclists are compelled to take shelter below flyovers, pedestrian bridges and under the awnings of petrol pumps. Rain also brings to fore a question in people’s mind: why Karachi does not have a proper storm water drainage system? The only answer we, the public, can give is that the past governments or the authorities in the civic body setup never thought of making one. A storm water drainage system is perhaps the most important infrastructure that is built parallel to when a road is being constructed. It takes away all water that floods the road. In 2019, when the west is making headways in using synthetic DNA strands to store massive data, studying black holes, making advancements in quantum computing, conducting brain mapping, and doing immense research and development in various fields, Karachi’s authorities are using suction pumps to remove water from Shahra-e-Faisal, the busiest road of the city. This picture is similar no matter which locality of the city is under discussion. From Malir to Drigh Road, from Gulshan-e-Iqbal to Saddar, and even posh areas of Clifton and Defence Housing Authority (DHA) remain inundated. An effective and proper infrastructural planning must have taken place when the city’s development process was being carried out years ago. A storm water drainage system was installed in Karachi’s DHA, and that too after years of nuisance that the people had to face during monsoon. Rocket science is not required to install a drainage system. Even the underpasses built across Karachi do not have one. The Ghareebabad underpass and the Clifton underpass are examples of how they fill with rainwater, depicting the sight of a large swimming pool. Infrastructural planning, akin to every other kind of planning, must have the following steps: forecasting, assigning the budget, acquiring human and capital resources, planning the timeline for each phase and executing the project. Being true to the cause and mission, and remaining transparent and accountable for your actions are the steps that must be followed without fail, from the beginning to the end, by those responsible to complete the project. Unfortunately, planning is the area that does not have a concrete foundation in Pakistan. Even at the time of expanding Shahra-e-Faisal last year, the authorities either failed to or ignored completely to install a storm water drainage system, which is a proof of sheer negligence and their inability to look into the future-the first step of planning. Had there been a proper system to drain rainwater installed across Karachi, which was never a big deal to do so in the first place, people would not have to live in a dystopian-like city every time it rained The sights and sounds on the streets of Karachi after rain-whether if it rains for half an hour or for a day, whether a drizzle or heavy rain-remains the same with mayhem and confusion visible on the streets. Despite rain causing most parts of all roads to be barely inaccessible, some drivers keep pressing the horn and switching on their headlights, begging for the car ahead to give them space. Then there are the even more inconsiderate ones who speed away through the water thereby splashing it on passersby, motorcyclists or those sitting in their cars with their windows open. While the government’s negligence has damaged the country at the macro level, the people are destroying society and societal values at the micro level. Each year, limitations of the civic bodies of Karachi are exposed, which are never rectified nor do these authorities show any mortification over their inadequacies. These limitations arise when they do not ponder on the future and do not plan accordingly. Had there been a proper system to drain rainwater installed across Karachi, which was never a big deal to do so in the first place, people would not have to live in a dystopian-like city every time it rained. Residents living in low-lying areas suffer the most as rainwater inundates lanes before the water enters their homes, destroying their belongings and creating contamination. It will take years before Karachiites will enjoy monsoon instead of facing problems, and spend time and money to rectify them even after the rain clouds have passed. However, it seems the dark clouds hovering over our system will remain for a long time. The writer is an independent researcher, author and columnist