Balakot

Balakot (Urdu: بالاکوٹ), is a town in Mansehra District in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. It is located at 34°32'60N 73°20'60E and has an average elevation of 971 metres (3188 feet) - the town was destroyed during the 2005 earthquake.

Location

Kunhar river near Balakot during July

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

Administrative subdivisions of Mansehra District.

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.

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. 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

Balakot main town on June 08, 2005 - before the earthquake.

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.

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.

Chairman Farid Khan

File:Frid Khan.JPG

Farid Khan.

The most prominent personality of Balakot is 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. In spite of his feudal background he He is the respectable personality of the area.He played a great role for the well being of the people of Balakot. He developed the area very much. He made the government build grid stations, phone exchange, tehsil buildings and roads in Balakot.He also remained federel minister twice in his political carreer.was very kind to poor. He got his higher education from Lucknow, India. He died in the recent earthquake. Chairman Farid Khan meeting people in his residence in the given photo.

Syed Qasim Shah

File:Qasim Shah.jpg

Farid Khan.

He is the respectable personality of the area. He had his Bachlor of Business Administrstion degree from The USA. He played a great role for the well being of the people of Balakot. He developed the area very much. He made the government build grid stations, phone exchange, tehsil buildings and roads in Balakot. Above all he promoted awareness amongst people to search for better life, which not only lifted the living standard but also made them productive citizens. Syed Qasim Shah has worked relentlessly to promote education and health issues of the women. To achieve this he helped opened several Schools and Basic health units all over the area. Mr. Syed Qasim Shah has served the area for more than two decades. The impact of which can be seen in everyday of peoples life. He also remained federal minister twice in his political career. Syed Qasim Shah is no stranger to the people of NWFP. His contribution to the area will be remembered for generations to come. Syed Qasim Shah had won hearts and minds of the most of the people. He has always encouraged a dialogue amongst people. He always treated people with utmost respect even his political rivals. Syed Qasim Shah always believed in integrity, personal respect, self reliance, honesty, and to the basic principles of humanity.

Mian Wali-ur-Rehman (Wali Mian)

He was a noble and pious person of Balakot. He was twice elected Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA). He belonged to Gujar tribe, but he was respected by every caste of the area. 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 Mansehra is an eminent religious scholar of national repute. Being a promising son of an illustrious religious family of wide learning and academic research, he has contributed enormously to spread the universal message of peace enshrined in Islam for unifying the human race, torn apart on racial, ethnic, linguistic and prejudicial basis. He is a great orator to attract vast audience who attentively listen to his sermons chiefly appealing for moderation, mutual sympathy, sharing the suffering of afflicted and deprived section of human society. He plays decisive and important constructive role to bind together the vast empire of human society in the main stream of universal brotherhood marked with mutual respect and understanding. Due to these sublime attributes, Qazi Sahib is held in high esteem by the governing circle of the country. His life work is characterized with enlightened outlook devoted to disseminating the message of peace as visualized by Muhammad.

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.

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 is very kind person and a reflection of his father. He also lost his two brothers in the earthquake.

Salim Khan

He owns most of the commercial property in main Balakot market. Once he was also elected as the member of the union council of Balakot. He is respected by majority of people in Balakot. He lost most of his family in October 2005 Balakot earthquake. His property was also destroyed but he has managed to construct his property again.

Shahalam Khan

He was the Union Council Nazim of Balakot. He was very kind person. He had great sentiments for the betterment of the people. Unfortunately he martyred in the earthquake. His seat was replaced by his elder brother shafqat khan.who is carrying the mission of his late brother and is trying best to help the poor and needy peole.

Nasim Khan Bangish

He was a great politician and diplomat of Balakot. He was president of Pakistan Muslim league N Balakot. He was also very kind to the poor and used to solve their problems for no cost. He also died in the recent earthquake.

Raja Fayyaz

He is the son of Mr waliullah resident of Garlat union council.His services and efforts for the restoration of Livelihood and infrastructure in the entire earthqauke affected area will be remembered and acknowledged for many decades.

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

References

34°32′60″N 73°20′60″E