Himalayan Pink Salt, a matter of National pride for Pakistan

[خره مينه لګته وي]

Much of the Himalayan pink salt consumed across the globe comes from Pakistan. But against the backdrop of tense relations with neighbouring India, the rock salt has become a matter of national pride and sovereignty.

Rather than selling the raw material at cheap rates to China and India, Islamabad now wants to boost exports of pink salt to the West. Our correspondents report.

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According to Commonwealth Legal Information Institute (CommonLII), there is a trade agreement signed between India and Pakistan dated June 24,1949 for their exports. Pakistan will export raw cotton, animal Hides & Skins, raw jute, rape & mustard seed and Rock salt.

By this agreement, Pakistan is bound to export 74000 metric tons of rock salt to India. In 2016 India has imported 625 metric tons of pink salt from Pakistan at price of 2.98 rupees per Kg and exported 15.09562metric tons salt to Korea, USA, UAE, Canada, Somalia and Spain at a price of average 125PKR/kg with its own packaging and brand name.

Interestingly, Pakistan has no agreement on any product with Israel but Israeli packed Pakistani salt is also available in International markets.

France is also selling Pakistani salt in its own branding and packing. A few grams of Pakistani pink salt international market costs from £3 to £8 that is equal to 572 to 1525 Pakistani rupees.

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AryNews ---- 23/June/2019
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Thankfully we stopped all of this Raw salt export to India -- it should never happen again...
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[Nilu Pule]

I use it instead of regular table salt.

 

[Bismarck]

I use it instead of regular table salt.

Me too, but it is a bit expensive.

 

[tman786]

About time.. Pink salt should be sold as a packaged product

 

[Nilu Pule]

Me too, but it is a bit expensive.

Well in here, regular salt costs 20. And I get this for 400 online.

 

[Pakistansdefender]

Tel

About time.. Pink salt should be sold as a packaged product

Tell your rich industrialist to make industrial plants . Up until now no big name has made a packaging plant and market it to Europe .

 

[Ritual]

There will be riots if the government keeps allowing this salt export to India, they take it from us then package and sell it on for higher profits.

 

[Ahmet Pasha]

In Pakistan it sells for 2-3 rupees a kilo. In USA I saw it today for $2.49 the pack barely had 400g in it. Indians are making hay on the backs of poor Pakistanis.

This is what happens when only the government folk ask for the world governments for market acces and the local businessman and entrepreneur doesn't show drive and initiative.

Much of the Himalayan pink salt consumed across the globe comes from Pakistan. But against the backdrop of tense relations with neighbouring India, the rock salt has become a matter of national pride and sovereignty.

Rather than selling the raw material at cheap rates to China and India, Islamabad now wants to boost exports of pink salt to the West. Our correspondents report.

---------------------------------------------------------

Similar Threads on Defence.Pk --》

● Pakistan Wants You To Know: Most Pink Himalayan Salt Doesn't Come From India

● Pakistan is the #1 Pink Salt proudcer in the world

● Inhale Himalayan Pink Salt For These Benefits

● Pakistan Himalayan Pink Salt Trend to bring Dollars in Pakistan

 

[War Thunder]

Much of the Himalayan pink salt consumed across the globe comes from Pakistan. But against the backdrop of tense relations with neighbouring India, the rock salt has become a matter of national pride and sovereignty.

Rather than selling the raw material at cheap rates to China and India, Islamabad now wants to boost exports of pink salt to the West. Our correspondents report.

---------------------------------------------------------

Similar Threads on Defence.Pk --》

● Pakistan Wants You To Know: Most Pink Himalayan Salt Doesn't Come From India

● Pakistan is the #1 Pink Salt proudcer in the world

● Inhale Himalayan Pink Salt For These Benefits

● Pakistan Himalayan Pink Salt Trend to bring Dollars in Pakistan

I'll see that happening when it stops being sold under indian brands all over the world.

 

[atya]

All the pink salt that I am seeing on the shelves in the UK supermarkets now say product of Pakistan.

 

[TNT]

According to Commonwealth Legal Information Institute (CommonLII), there is a trade agreement signed between India and Pakistan dated June 24,1949 for their exports. Pakistan will export raw cotton, animal Hides & Skins, raw jute, rape & mustard seed and Rock salt.

By this agreement, Pakistan is bound to export 74000 metric tons of rock salt to India. In 2016 India has imported 625 metric tons of pink salt from Pakistan at price of 2.98 rupees per Kg and exported 15.09562metric tons salt to Korea, USA, UAE, Canada, Somalia and Spain at a price of average 125PKR/kg with its own packaging and brand name.

Interestingly, Pakistan has no agreement on any product with Israel but Israeli packed Pakistani salt is also available in International markets

Pakistan should demolish such pathetic trade deals. If India can remove autonomy of IOK, we can also finish such one sided deals made by traitors.
It only shows how incompetent and pathetic our rulers have been.
By stopping export of raw pink salt, there will be shortage around the world and everyone knows it comes from Pakistan and will eventually ask us directly to supply it. Its not a rocket science.
What is the current status of salt exports? I heard we r still exporting to india..

 

[unbiasedopinion]

Yes, you should export and package it with profession mindset. Lots of market outside in the world. Also what about Sindha namak (i am not sure if i am pronouncing it right). Is it also from Sindh? Also there are research showing it is more benefical to human body than regular namak as it has almost 108 minerals in it compared to 20 so in common white salt. Also White salt puts enormous stress on kidney and body by its natural property of absorbing the body water as compared to sindha namak which is very useful due to its rich mineral contents and helps in regeneration of body cells hence have longevity properties.

 

[ohmrlobalobayeh]

Himalayan pink salt has caught the imagination of health nuts the world over, but where it comes from has now become a political issue. The salt is estimated to have formed hundreds of millions of years ago, when ancient bodies of water evaporated; it is mostly mined from the Khewra Salt Mine in the foothills of the Salt Range in Jhelum, in the Pakistani province of Punjab.


Pakistan never considered pink salt a prized product, much less a matter of national prestige and sovereignty, until this year – after a story on social media that India has been re-exporting the salt worldwide and labelling it “made in India”. Pakistani Twitter was furious: the salt cannot have been “made” in India when it was bought from Pakistan.


Pakistani politicians took notice. Senator Nauman Wazir Khattak suggested filing a patent on pink salt to make sure it is sold with Pakistan’s name, not India’s, on it. Shibli Faraz, leader of the Senate and a member of the Standing Committee on Commerce and Textile, called pink salt a “unique product”; he repeatedly raised the issue in parliament and pressed for legislation for Pakistan to trademark pink salt.


However, trade between Pakistan and India has been suspended since New Delhi revoked the special status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir in August. As there seems to be no immediate resolution to the long-drawn Kashmir dispute, the salt trade with India cannot continue anyway.

In the first place, exports to India account for hardly 2 per cent of Pakistan’s total exports. This may be an ideal opportunity to come up with a new export strategy: sell pink salt not in raw form but as a finished product, and find new buyers directly.

Even though the Khewra Salt Mine is the world’s second largest, Pakistan is not among the world’s top 10 salt exporters; instead, neighbouring India and China are 7th and 9th respectively.


Nearly 30 per cent of global demand for salt is from China. Pakistani salt, which is 99 per cent halite and far purer than other varieties, should be feeding this demand. However, instead of refining this salt and maximising its exclusive value, Pakistan exports it cheaply in rock form.

The salt is pink because it contains trace minerals including iron. It retains more natural properties than table salt, as it is naturally harvested, manually extracted, minimally processed and free of artificial additives. The product is from ancient oceans, and deserves a slick marketing campaign.


https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinio...in-and-modis-india-are-plagued-inward-looking
Not only that, the Khewra Salt Mine is a worthy tourist attraction. Local mythology has it that the mines were discovered around 320BC, when Alexander the Great was riding across Pakistan and his horse started licking a salty rock on the ground.
The mines are spread across an area of 110 sq km, with tunnels running half a mile into a mountain. In addition, the mines are offering therapy to people with asthma or respiratory problems.

Pakistan’s salt exports grew from US$15.8 million in 2014 to US$51.6 million in 2018, according to official statistics. Nevertheless, some urgent steps need to be taken for Islamabad to get a foothold in international markets.

Miners and visitors pray at a mosque made from rock salt in the salt mines of Khewra, Pakistan. Photo: Reuters


Pakistan has been exporting its pink salt as halite or rock salt; buyers then repackage it and resell it. So Pakistan must set up salt processing and packaging units, and come up with a better marketing strategy. Lately, a Pakistani masala brand started marketing pink salt to international buyers, but this has to be done on a larger scale.

‘Himalayan Viagra’ focus of China’s new anti-corruption campaign
Next, salt extraction should be slowed down in order to raise prices to an optimum level and bring in more revenue. Salt smuggling and sales to domestic retailers must be regulated. One of the main reasons international buyers find it easier to buy salt from other countries is that domestic sellers offer a dated electronic payment method; this must be remedied.


Finally, pink salt should be accorded the rights of “geographical indications” protected by the World Intellectual Property Organisation, so that illegal branding can be dealt with. According to market forecasts, global salt consumption will hit 335 million tonnes by 2020, and the global salt industry will be worth US$14.1 billion.


With an output of 325,000 tonnes per year and another 350 years to go, the Khewra mines are a virtual treasure trove. Pakistan must capitalise on them and capture markets around the world to achieve greater gains.


Sabena Siddiqi is a foreign affairs journalist with a special focus on the Belt and Road Initiative, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and South Asia

 

[Syed1.]

Took this photo from my local grocery store, filled me with pride. Nice packaging.

 

[fitpOsitive]

Took this photo from my local grocery store, filled me with pride. Nice packaging.

View attachment 591382

When ever I see the word SHAN, my heart says, must be something useful.