Khewra Salt Mine
The Khewra Salt Mine (Punjabi, Urdu: کھیوڑہ نمک کان), also known as Mayo Salt Mine, is the world's second largest salt mine, located in Khewra, Punjab, Pakistan. The mine is in the Salt Range of the Potohar plateau, which rises from the Indus plain of the Punjab.
Khewra Salt Mine tunnel (Crystal Valley) | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
Khewra Salt Khewra Salt | |
| Location | Khewra |
| Province | Punjab |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 32°38′52.58″N 73°00′30.22″E |
| Production | |
| Products | Rock salt |
| Production | 3,50,000 MT |
| Financial year | 2019–20 |
| History | |
| Opened | 1872 |
| Active | 150 years |
| Owner | |
| Company | Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation |
| Website | www.PMDC.gov.pk |
The mine is famous for its production of pink Khewra salt, often marketed as Himalayan salt, and is a major tourist attraction, drawing up to 250,000 visitors a year. Its history dates back to its discovery by Alexander's troops in 326 BC, but it started trading in the Mughal era. The main tunnel at ground level was developed by H. Warth, a mining engineer, in 1872 during British rule. After independence, the BMR took possession until 1956 and then PIDC owned the mines till 1965. After India-Pakistan war in 1965, the WPIDC took over the administration of salt mines and in 1974, the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation took over the mine, which still remains the largest source of salt in the country, producing more than 350,000 tons per annum of about 99% pure halite. Estimates of the reserves of salt in the mine vary from 82 million tons to 600 million tons.