Balakot
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Balakot (Urdu: بالاکوٹ), is a town in Mansehra District in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. It is located at Coordinates: and has an average elevation of 971 metres (3188 feet)[1] - 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)[2], 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.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] 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[3].
[edit] 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[4]. 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.
[edit] 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 Pakistani government has announced that the city will be abandoned, and rebuilt in a new location[5].
[edit] 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.
[edit] Shahlam Khan
.He was the Tehsil Nazim of Balakot. He died in the recent Earthquake. His seat was replaced by his elder brother Shafqat Khan.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Qazi Khalil Ahmed
Qazi Khalil Ahmed, District Khateeb of Mansehra is religious personality of the area.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Abdur Rauf Khan
Abdur Rauf Khan is the son of Late Chairman Muhammad Farid Khan. He is the chief land owner of Balakot. He bore a great loss in the recent earthquake. He also lost his two brothers in the earthquake.
[edit] 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. .
[edit] Shafqat Khan
He was the Union Council Nazim of Balakot. His seat was replaced by his elder brother shafqat khan.
[edit] 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.
[edit] TOUSIF BABAR
TOUSIF BABAR IS AN ACTIVE VOLUNTEER OF PAKISTAN RED CRESCENT SOCIETY AND PLAYED AN ACTINE ROLL IN EARTH QUAKE 2005. HIS SERVICES TO THE PEOPLES OF BALAKOT WILL BE REMEMBERED ALWAYS. HE IS A NEPHEW OF RASHEED AHMED AN WELL KNOWN BUSINESS MAN OF BALAKOT.
[edit] External links
- Pictures of destruction in Balakot including aerial view of the town
- Balakot in Pictures
- [http://www.flickr.com/gp/11039094@N07/6Yv3fN More Post-Earthquake Ph
Computer Skill Centre Balakot
[edit] References
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