Balakot

Balakot ( _ur. بالاکوٹ), is a town in Mansehra District in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. It is located at coord|34|33|N|73|21|E|region:PK_type:city|display=inline,title and has an average elevation of 971 metres (3188 feet) [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/PK/3/Balakot.html Location of Balakot - Falling Rain Genomics] ] - the town was destroyed during the 2005 earthquake. The city has been rebuilt with the assistance of Saudi Public Assistance for Pakistan Earthquake Victims (SPAPEV) [rel="nofollow" [http://www.spapev.org] ] , a Saudi relief organization. While a separate project, initiated by the Government of Pakistan 'New Balakot City' is being developed near Mansehra, with a plan to relocate the population of two Union Councils of Balakot, demarcated as Red Zone.

Location

Balakot is located about thirty-eight kilometres in north-east of the city of Mansehra. It is a historical town, famous tourist destination of the region and gateway to Kaghan valley of the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. The river Kunhar, originating from Lulusar lake runs through the city and merges with Jhelum River just outside Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir.

Administration

Balakot is one of the main cities of Mansehra District, it serves as the chief city of Balakot Tehsil, which is the largest Tehsil of Mansehra District. And is also a Union Council and administers the many surrounding smaller towns and villages [ [http://www.nrb.gov.pk/lg_election/union.asp?district=73&dn=Mansehra Tehsils & Unions in the District of Mansehra] ] .

History

The town or village of Balakot was occupied by members of the Swati tribe, was on the banks of Kumar before it enters the Pakli Valley. The Sikhs invaded Mansehra in the year 1818 after stiff resistance from its inhabitants. As the Mansehra region fell under Sikh control, it was annexed to Punjab. The movement placed Waziristan, the Mohmand country beyond Kumar, Chitral and Yusufzai tribes within the control and responsibility of the Indian government. Syed Ahmad Shaheed and Shah Ismail Shaheed with the help of the Mujahadeen, including the 6 Swati's tribes of Balakot and Syeds of Kaghan, led many revolts and attacks against the Sikhs. At last on 6th May 1831 during a fierce battle Syed Ahmad Shaheed and Shah Ismail Shaheed along with hundreds of their followers were killed [ [http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V05_297.gifAmbela - Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 5, p. 289.] ] . The central mosque of Balakot is named after Syed Ahmed Shaheed. Qazi Khalil Ahmed District Khateeb of District Mansehra,is the present Khateeb of Central Syed Ahmed Shaheed Mosque Balakot. The mosque is destroyed second time by the natural disaster, as it was just reconstructed again after being destroyed by a 1992 flood in Balakot. The areas includes diverse groups, the predominant spoken language however is Hindko.

Earthquake 2005

The town was completely destroyed in the massive earthquake on 8 October 2005. The United Arab Emirates has volunteered to rebuild this small city into a more spectacular one with housing colonies, schools, hospitals, and other civic facilities. However the Pakistan government has announced that the city will be relocated at a new location [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4869208.stm BBC NEWS - Pakistan to move quake-hit town] ] .

Prominent Personalities

These are some prominent personalities of Balakot which played their part in the region.These personalities are detected from the local people of Balakot.

Syed Qasim Shah

He had his Bachelor's of Business Administration from USA. He started his political career as chairman of district council Mansehra, and later was elected as member of the provincial assembly NWFP, the National Assembly of Pakistan and Senate of Pakistan. He had been holding key responsibilities in the federal government during his political career.

Mian Wali-ur-Rehman (Wali Mian)

He was twice elected Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA). He belonged to Gujar tribe. He did many developmental projects in the region. He was also an Islamic scholar. He died in Balakot in 2004.

Qazi Khalil Ahmed

Qazi Khalil Ahmed, District Khateeb of Mansehra is religious personality of the area.

Jamil Ahmad Khan

Jamil khan is the first ever CSS passed officer from Balakot.He remained assistant commissioner, deputy commissioner and home secretary of Gilgit.

Ahmad Hussain Mujahid

He is a famous poet, writer and critic .He has been recognised as SON OF BALAKOT in reward of his services. He has written three books.His recent book "SAFHA E KHAK" is about the earthquake of Oct, 2005.

Chairman Muhammad Farid Khan

Chairman Muhammad Farid Khan Khawajakheli. He was born in 1922. He was the son of Muhammad Aslam Khan, the Chief Of Balakot. Muhammad Farid Khan played a great role in the politics of Balakot. He made the government build grid stations, phone exchange, tehsil buildings and roads in Balakot.He got his higher education from Lucknow, India. He died in the recent earthquake. .

Nasim Bangish

He was a politician and diplomat of Balakot. He was president of Pakistan Muslim league N Balakot. He also died in the recent earthquake.

External links

* [http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/0,5538,PB64-SUQ9MTEyNDYmbnI9MQ_3_3,00.html Pictures of destruction in Balakot] including [http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/0,5538,PB64-SUQ9MTEyNDYmbnI9OA_3_3,00.html aerial view of the town]
* [http://www.flickr.com/gp/11039094@N07/6bX1k1 Balakot in Pictures]
* [http://www.flickr.com/gp/11039094@N07/6Yv3fN More Post-Earthquake Ph

Computer Skill Centre Balakot

References