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| Balakot بالاکوٹ |
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  Balakot
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| Coordinates: 34°32′N 73°21′E / 34.54°N 73.35°E | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province | North-West Frontier Province |
| Time zone | PST (UTC+5) |
| Number of towns | 1 |
| Number of Union Councils | 1 |
Balakot (Urdu: بالاکوٹ), is a town in Mansehra District in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. The town was destroyed during the 2005 earthquake and later rebuilt with the assistance of the Government of Pakistan and Saudi Public Assistance for Pakistan Earthquake Victims (SPAPEV)[1], a Saudi relief organization. A separate project, initiated by the Government of Pakistan 'New Balakot City' is being developed near Mansehra, with plans to relocate the population of two Union Councils of Balakot, demarcated as a Red Zone.
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Location
Balakot is located at 34°33′N 73°21′E / 34.55°N 73.35°ECoordinates: 34°33′N 73°21′E / 34.55°N 73.35°E about thirty-eight kilometers north-east of the city of Mansehra, in North West Frontier Province. It has an average elevation of 971 metres (3188 feet)[2]. It is a historical town, a famous tourist destination of the region and the 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 Pakistan administered 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. It is also a Union Council and administers the many surrounding smaller towns and villages[3].
History
The town or village of Balakot is occupied mainly by members of the Awan,Gujar, syed,Qureshi,Mughal, &Swati tribe and is on the banks of the River Kunhar before it enters the Kashmir Valley. The Sikhs tried to free Mansehra in the 1818 but were met with resistance from the occupying army. As the Mansehra region fell under Sikh control, it was annexed to Punjab. The movement placed Waziristan, the Mohmand country beyond Kunhar, 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 6 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. The areas includes diverse groups, the predominant spoken languages however are Hindko and Gojri.Pashto is being spoken by swatis of Balakot.
Earthquake 2005
The town was completely destroyed in the massive earthquake on 8 October 2005. The United Arab Emirates has volunteered to rebuild this town into an improved one with housing colonies, schools, hospitals, and other civic facilities. However the Pakistan government has announced that the city will be relocated[5].
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.[when?] 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.
Lieutenant General Salah ud Din Tirmazi
General Tirmazi is veteran of Indo - Pak wars and has served Pakistan Army for about three decades. He remained on important posts and after retirement he has entered the national politics.
Syed Ahmed Hussain
Son of veteran politician Syed Muzamil Shah, has remained District Nazim, Mansehra and member of the NWFP provincial assembly from Balakot.
Jamil Ahmad Khan
Jamil Khan is the first ever CSS passed officer from Balakot.He belongs to Swati Tribe. He remained assistant commissioner, deputy commissioner and home secretary of Gilgit.
Ahmad Hussain Mujahid
A prominent poet, writer and critic. He has three books on his credit.He has been declared Son Of Balakot in reward of his contribution in the field of literature and his work for the cause of humanity.
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. . he is the great man of balakot.he love ishfaq khan from hassa.
External links
- Balakot in Pictures
- More Post-Earthquake Photographs
- [http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/0,5538,PB64-SUQ9MTEyNDYmbnI9OA_3_3,00.html aerial view of the
References
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