PESHAWAR, March 16: The NWFP government on Friday approved a master plan for setting up Balakot city at Bakaryal, which is nine kilometres away from its original site. The city was destroyed in the October 2005 earthquake.

The plan was approved in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani. Federal and provincial officials, chief secretary and additional chief secretary attended the meeting, a handout said.

Main features of the master plan included provision of services for revival of economic activities, tourism, farming, creation of job opportunities and establishment of infrastructure for livestock farming, agriculture and communication.

“President General Pervez Musharraf will lay the foundation stone of the proposed new city this month,” the handout said.

The meeting was briefed in detail about town planning, including presentation of city maps, construction of roads, sanitation plan, social services provision centres, government offices as well as details about public and private residences.

The chief minister stressed the need for speeding up action on the plan and said planning at the provincial level should conform with federal government’s guidelines.