Despite the many studies and proposals for the development of the city of 
Baalbek, the search for solutions to its problems, its defining role and its 
differentiating functions is ongoing.
With independence, the city of Baalbek played a central role as the cultural 
focus of a large agricultural area and as its administrative center. Thanks to 
its heritage it was able to attract tourist activities, which culminated in the 
1955 Baalbek international festivals.
The city remained somewhat isolated from the civil war that broke out in 
1975 there was even development in its agricultural production during this 
period in which it experienced remarkable economic recovery. It gained 
additional importance after its designation as the administrative center of 
the province of Baalbek-Hermel. However, it is now witnessing a period of 
social and demographic transformation as a result of the accumulation of 
economic, social and political crises.
Projects proposed for the development of Baalbek were not able to respond 
to the growing needs of the city, because they themselves were not 
comprehensive nor linked to any development plans at the regional or 
national levels. This led to a loss in the social continuity of the area.
The attempts of the state to propose development plans have all failed. It 
has been unable to define distinguishing identities for Lebanese cities in 
general and this failure included the city of Baalbek, which has lost its 
morphology and has had the meanings of its human culture distorted. So 
Baalbek complains of different pains today and has isolated itself, silently 
suffering the views imposed upon it(260word).