Pakistan to rebuild quake-hit city in new location

Pakistan has decided to shift a quake-devastated city to a new location after experts declared any new construction dangerous, a Cabinet minister said today.

Balakot, a scenic town which lies about 120 miles north of the capital Islamabad and had a population of 300,000 people, was destroyed when the 7.6-magnitude quake hit the country.

Thousands of people died in the debris and many others were left homeless.

Today, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told reporters that the government, after receiving a report, had decided to move the city to a new location.

He also said the gigantic task of rebuilding quake-devastated villages, town and cities throughout the region will begin on April 7.

The much-awaited decisions came about six months after the October 8 quake toppled homes, schools, mosques, hospitals and government buildings in north-west Pakistan, including its portion of Kashmir, killing over 80,000 people and leaving more than 3 million homeless.

Many victims are currently living in tents donated by the international community.