Pink Salt Pakistan

Pink Salt

The Khewra Salt Mine houses the world's second-largest reserves of salt, estimated to be between 90 million to 600 million tons. The discovery of salt in this region is credited to the horses of Alexander the Great’s army, around 300 BCE. When the horses were released to graze in the Khewra plains, they began licking the ground, revealing the presence of salt. It wasn't until the Mughal era, however, that formal trade of salt from this region began. Later, the British upgraded the mining system scientifically and curbed smuggling activities.

During excavation, an ancient fossilised piece of wood was found, which has since been preserved in its original state for research purposes. 

  

The Pothohar Range is located 1,200 kilometres from the Himalayas.

The salt extracted here comes in three colours: pink, white, and red. Pink salt contains magnesium, red salt is rich in iron, while white salt primarily consists of sodium chloride. Pakistan’s pink salt has been found to be highly beneficial for health.

Currently, Pakistan produces approximately 350,000 tons of salt annually, a relatively small quantity given the vast reserves. Despite owning the second-largest salt reserves in the world, Pakistan ranks 20th in salt exports. Pakistan exports raw salt to India at a rate of three rupees per kilogram. Factories in Amritsar, India, process and pack this Pakistani pink salt under the brand name "Himalayan Salt," and export it to the global market at 125 rupees per kilogram. Further processing of this salt can raise its price in the international market to anywhere between 500 and 1,500 rupees per kilogram. 

This raises the question: why doesn’t Pakistan directly sell its salt to international markets and earn significant foreign exchange?

The answer is simple: incompetence.

First, Pakistani authorities make the export system so complex and cumbersome, often for personal gain, that foreign investors prefer buying from other countries at higher prices rather than dealing with the bureaucratic hurdles in Pakistan.

Secondly, Pakistan needs to establish world-class packaging and processing units.

Thirdly, the country must promote its own salt brand on a global scale and discourage those countries profiting from selling Pakistani salt under their labels.

Lastly, Pakistan must adopt modern techniques and stop moving at a sluggish pace.