ISLAMABAD, Aug 25 (APP):Pakistan’s pink salt exports increased to $36 million in FY26, while export volume rose to more than 148,000 tonnes, as the government continued efforts to strengthen the product’s geographical identity, international recognition and value addition. According to official documents available with Wealth Pakistan, pink salt exports increased from $35 million in FY25 to $36 million in FY26, while export quantity rose from 127,924 tonnes to 148,071 tonnes. …
Pakistan’s pink salt exports reach $36m
ISLAMABAD, Aug 25 (APP):Pakistan’s pink salt exports increased to $36 million in FY26, while export volume rose to more than 148,000 tonnes, as the government continued efforts to strengthen the product’s geographical identity, international recognition and value addition.
According to official documents available with Wealth Pakistan, pink salt exports increased from $35 million in FY25 to $36 million in FY26, while export quantity rose from 127,924 tonnes to 148,071 tonnes.
Pakistan possesses estimated rock salt reserves of more than 65 million metric tonnes, according to Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) figures cited in the documents. PMDC-controlled reserves exceed 36 million metric tonnes, comprising pink rock salt from the Salt Range region and grey salt from the Kohat Saline Series. The country’s salt deposits have purity levels of up to 99%.
A key element of the government’s strategy is to strengthen the product’s association with its Pakistani geographical origin. The salt generally referred to in international markets as “Himalayan Pink Salt” has been registered and promoted by Pakistan under the geographical identity “Khewra Pink Rock Salt” to reinforce its origin-based identity.
Khewra Pink Rock Salt was registered as a Geographical Indication (GI) on July 18, 2022, and currently has 17 authorised users. The government has also launched efforts for international registration of the pink salt GI as part of measures aimed at enhancing global recognition of the product.
The government has also taken steps to improve the recording and regulation of pink salt exports. The Ministry of Commerce took up the introduction of an exclusive Harmonised System code for pink salt with Pakistan Customs and the Federal Board of Revenue because no specific code for the product existed previously.
As a result, HS Code 2501.0021 was assigned to pink salt to maintain a proper export record, with the change adopted through the Finance Bill 2023-24.
Another measure has been the introduction of a minimum export price of $130 per metric tonne to prevent under-invoicing of the product at the export stage.
The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) has promoted pink rock salt at major international platforms, including the Pakistan Pavilion at World Expo 2025 Osaka, which was developed around the product under the theme “Universe in a Grain of Salt.”
The pavilion featured pink rock salt installations, information on the history of Pakistan’s pink salt, a video on the Khewra Salt Mines, a digital interactive table and a Healing Garden. The displays were also used to highlight Pakistan’s cultural heritage, economic potential and natural resources.
Other promotional activities include participation of Pakistani salt companies in FoodAg Karachi and international exhibitions including Gulfood in the UAE, Anuga in Germany, SIAL events in France, Canada and Malaysia, Foodex Japan and MIHAS in Malaysia. TDAP has also undertaken buyer-seller meetings, trade delegations, product profiling, market intelligence and capacity-building programmes.
The government’s measures are focused on protecting the Pakistani identity of Khewra Pink Rock Salt, improving export documentation and pricing, and expanding international promotion, while long-term product-specific commercial branding remains primarily the responsibility of private-sector authorised users.
