President General Pervez Musharraf on Monday performed the ground breaking of Rs 12 billion modern city of Balakot, to be built in place of old Balakot city that was devastated in the October 8, 2005 earthquake.
Addressing the gathering after attending the briefing on the project to house 50,000 people, the President said, "I had promised the people of this area to convert this challenge into an opportunity, and today I have fulfilled it."
He said that in his numerous visits to the earthquake devastated areas he saw deaths and destruction everywhere, and pledged to provide much better facilities than the people earlier had.
He expressed gratitude to the people of Pakistan, the country's armed forces, and the world community in general, UN organisations and NGOs for their help and assistance following the earthquake and described it as "humanity at its best". He said neither there was any epidemic, nor there was second wave of death, as was being predicted, and added that "with God's help and determination of the nation all challenges were overcome". The President appreciated that over 93 percent population of old Balakot was willing to shift to the new town. Musharraf announced that loans acquired from Zarai Tarqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) in Tehsil Balakot would be waived.
He asked the authorities to design earthquake-resistant houses that would meet the requirement of the local people. He directed that no tree should be cut for the project and the new site should be eco-friendly. The President also appreciated the contribution and work of0 the Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (Erra).
The 'New Balakot' will be built 20 km south of the old city, and 15 km north of Mansehra. Around 78 percent of the old Balakot city lies on two fault lines--main boundary thrust and Himalayan frontal thrust--and it was flattened by an earthquake of 7.6 magnitude which killed 73,000 people.
Erra Chairman Altaf Saleem, giving briefing to the President, said that Rs 35 billion was being spent on reconstruction in Mansehra and out of which Rs 27 billion are being spent only for Balakot reconstruction. He said that the site for new city of Balakot had been selected through consensus with NWFP Government and local population.
He termed it a historical moment, and added that the project had been termed as "sensational success housing project". Erra Deputy Chairman Lieutenant General Nadim Ahmed said that the New Balakot City, to be constructed in line with future requirements, would be located 22 km from the old one at Bakryal.
He said an area of 1,425 acres (11,400 kanals) had been acquired for this project which would be completed in three years. The new city will be equipped with all modern facilities, and it could be expanded in three different directions, while it has the capacity to house 2.5 million people in next 25 years.
He said that France, Libya and United Kingdom have already provided $75 million--about 25 million each--while the rest of the amount would be provided by Pakistan government that would provide residential facilities to up to 50,000 quake-hit people. He said the new city would have 40 feet roads with schools, mosques, hospitals and other services just 5 to 10 minutes walk.
"The development package will help provide an effective basic infrastructure in all four districts including Mansehra, Batagram, Shangla and Kohistan," he told a big public meeting here after inaugurating the construction of new Balakot city at Bakryal.
The President said that Rs 10 million each would also be provided to tehsils Ughi, Mansehra and Kala Dhaka for development activities. President Musharraf said Balakot was severely hit by the devastating October 8, 2005 earthquake, so it would be given Rs 20 million for uplift projects.
The President said all the 60 union councils would also be given three million rupees each for provision of gas and electricity and construction of roads in the area. He said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had already announced that the federal government would provide development packages on annual basis to all the 110 districts in the country in addition to the funds being provided by the provincial governments.
Addressing a big public meeting here the President said some elements were politicising the issue of judiciary and taking advantage of it to disturb the development projects. The President said these elements were trying to distort truth and reality by projecting false and wrong notions.
He urged the people to reject such elements and their baseless claims and remain on guard against their designs to subvert the development process. The President said these elements wanted to come into power again to loot the national exchequer as the national economy had improved as a result of the policies of the government.
Referring to the projection of May 12 incidents at Karachi, the President said some elements wanted to take advantage from the loss of lives and property on that day.
He said such elements wanted to damage the ongoing development process and were against him and his colleagues who were sincerely working for the welfare, progress and prosperity of the country.
The President said Karachi is the city where people from all parts of the country are living together and working without any discrimination and playing an important role in the national economy and development.
He said those indulging false propaganda have to be defeated so that the development process initiated by the present government continues uninterrupted for national uplift and well-being of the people. Their negative tactics were motivated by self-aggrandisement, he said, urging people to be careful and not to be influenced by their frivolous propaganda.
Referring to the activities of extremist elements, the President said they have been wrongly projecting Islam, which is a religion of peace and brotherhood. President Musharraf said Islam has explained broad parameters for all aspects of life including governance. He said he had been explaining the real Islamic values and its true spirit within and outside the country and dispelling the propaganda of the extremists.
Referring to the call of Jihad given by the management of Lal Masjid in Islamabad, the President said only government could issue a call for Jihad. He pointed out that the biggest Jihad is to fight poverty, ignorance and backwardness, which the extremist elements have completely ignored.
The President said due to effective education based on science and technology in the madaris in the Islamic world in the past, Muslims led the world but unfortunately this type of education was not available in the madaris of today with the result that Muslims are lagging behind others in the world.
Referring to reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in the earthquake affected areas, the President said development projects costing Rs 100 million have been initiated in the different areas in Mansehra.
He said he fulfilled his promise of converting the challenges into an opportunity for development by starting projects in the quake-affected areas.
Appreciating the rehabilitation work in the quake-hit areas, the President said new roofs in the areas with CGI sheets is clear proof of the rehabilitation work.
He said due to effective measures taken by the government, there had been no deaths because of hunger or lack of medical facilities in the quake devastated areas. The President said 3.5 million people had suffered due to the earthquake and the whole world came forward to help Pakistan in this difficult time. He said best doctors from across the world and NGOs came to Pakistan due to the respect and honour the country enjoys in the world community.
He said 600,000 houses were damaged and all the educational and health institutions were destroyed but now there were better educational and health facilities available in these areas.
The President said the government has limited resources, therefore it organised Donors' Conference which was attended by representatives of 80 countries and they pledged to give $6.5 billion to Pakistan for reconstruction and rehabilitation. He said all the countries, UN bodies, NGOs and Pakistanis living abroad contributed a lot in the rehabilitation and reconstruction in the quake affected areas.
The President said compensation was also being given to those who lost their houses and announced that survey was underway to give compensation to those who lost their lands in the earthquake.
Regarding the demand of the people to waive off the condition to use design of ERRA for reconstructing their houses in the hills, the President announced to withdraw this condition but asked the ERRA to help the people in reconstruction of earthquake proof houses in the mountains.
President Pakistan Muslim League NWFP and Federal Minister Political Affairs Amir Muqam and District Nazim Sardar Muhammad Yousaf also spoke on the occasion.