President General Pervez Musharraf Monday laid foundation stone of a model city in Mansehra district (North West Frontier Province or NWFP) for residents of Balakot that was totally flattened by the October 2005 killer earthquake. "We have turned the challenge posed by the catastrophic quake into an opportunity of progress and development because of peoples' support and Pakistan army's efforts, the president said on the occasion. He said the people would be provided with civic, health and education facilities that were not available to them before. To be called New Balakot City (NBC), it is located at Bakriyal, some 20 kilometers from the devastated town. As many as 1425 acres (11400 kanals) of land had been acquired for this three-year first of its kind project costing $200 million.
