A PRESENTATION ON

KHEWRA SALT MINE

FOR
PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING

INSTRUCTED BY
SIR SIDDIQUE
MBA

PRESENTED BY
FAISAL USMAN
&
YASIR ZIA

DATED 04th APRIL 2009

NEWPORTS INSTITUTE OF COMMUNICATION & ECONOMICS
A salt mine is an operation involved in the extraction of salt from
rock salt. Areas known for their salt mines include Khewra in
Pakistan, Tuzla in Bosnia, Wieliczka and Bochnia in Poland,
Hallstatt and Salzkammergut in Austria, Rheinber in Germany,
Slanic in Romania, Provadiya in Bulgaria, Avery Island in
Louisiana, the wich towns of Cheshire and Worcestershire in
England. The Sifto Salt Mine in Goderich, Ontario, Canada is
one of the largest salt mines in the World. Khewra is the site of
the world's largest salt mines, including soda ash production.
Located in the eastern Salt Range, South of Islamabad. Khewra
salt mines are the second largest salt mines in the world,

KHEWRA SALT MINE, THE TOP SALT MINE IN THE WORLD

Khewra Salt Mines is located in Khewra,
Jhelum District,Punjab in Pakistan, about
160 kilometres from Islamabad and 260
kilometres from Lahore. It attracts up to
40,000 visitors per year and is the second
largest salt mine in the world. Situated in
the foothills of the Salt Range, the Khewra
Salt Mines are the oldest in the sub-
continent.
GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION OF KHEWRA SALT MINE
326BC: Khewra salt deposits are discovered by the troops of Alexander's army whose
horses were seen licking rock-salt in the area.

13th Century AD: Janjua-Raja tribe extracts salt from the area.

1500: Mughals control the salt removal from the area.

1809: Sikhs take over the control of mines from the Mughals.

1849: British take over the control of mines from the Sikhs.

1850: British reports reveal that about 534512 tones of fine rock Salt had been extracted
up to then.

1853: Drinkable water spring is discovered in the mine. Waterworks are built in the form
of wooden pipe to transport this water to Khewra village of that time.

1856: The metal led road between Khewra and Pind Dadan Khan is destroyed because
of floods.
1870: British renamed the mines as 'May Mines'.

HISTORY OF KHEWRA SALT MINE

1872: Dr H. Warth, the chief mining engineer at Khewra, designs the main tunnel at
ground level and establishes 50-50 room and pillar rule of salt extraction.
1878: Dr H. Warth leaves the Khewra Mine Project.

January 1, 1883: Meter-gauge railway was opened from Chalisa to Khewra.

1886-87: Queen Victoria Railway Bridge over River Jhelum is completed. This connects
Khewra to Malakwal Junction and hence to all of India by rail.

1889-90: Salt production crosses 50,000 metric tones for the first time.
1902: A hospital is established to provide medical facilities to miners and their families.

March 1923: the production obtained from Khewra Salt Mines was 49,71,420 tones

1938: ICI Soda Ash Khewra Plant established.

1947: Government of Pakistan takes over the mine operation.

1974: Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) established.

2002: K.S. Mines Resort Development Project launched by the PMDC Management.

HISTORY OF KHEWRA SALT MINE

KHEWRA RAILWAY STATION, JEHLUM
ENTRANCE OF KHEWRA SALT MINE
Photo to the right is the main entrance. The date written on top-middle of this arched
gate is 1916-17. The Urdu sign reads 'Salt Mine Khewra' which is literal translation of
English text to the left. Until few years ago the sign in Urdu had Persian influence and it
used to say 'kaan-e-namak Khewra'. Sign of changing times! There are 19 levels
(similar to stories in a building) in the mine. Seven levels are above ground and twelve
are underground. There is a clearance of 50ft of salt/rock between each level. Annual
extraction of salt here is around 315000 tones (in 2003-04). The mine is 350m above
sea level and goes 730m deep into the mountain. The cumulative length of tunneling
which is done inside the mine is more than 40 km. Inside the mine there are seven rock
salt seams with an accumulated thickness of 150 meters. In spots the rock salt is 99%
pure. Some people say salt or no salt, it is hard to find anything so pure outside the
mine these days. The average purity however is around 96%. According to PMDC
website the salt deposits here are 6.687 billion tones. It was difficult to imagine how
much salt is that but this is enough deposit for 400 years. It must also depend on how
much salt is extracted every year.

STRUCTURE OF KHEWRA SALT MINE

TUNNEL IN KHEWRA SALT MINE
USE OF LIGHT FOR GLAXY IN KHEWRA SALT MINE
WELL TRIMED TUNNEL WITH SALT WALL & CEILING
PEOPLE ENJOY DELIGHTING SALT
Pakistan is the only country for having the world’s largest salt mines with proven
reserves of about 10 billion ton in three mines including more than 6.687 billion ton
only in the Khewra rocky salt mine, located in the area of district Jhelum. Other two
salt mines are Warcha and Kalabagh.The main habitat of salt lies there in Punjab
at Khewra in Tehsil Pind Dadan Khan, District Jhelum. The salt found here at
Khewra Salt Mines is the best, finest and in natural state in the world. Salt was first
worked out in Khewra which is at about 175 km and the history tells that long
before the Alexander the great invaded the area, Salt was being mined at Khewra
at that time. At present the Khewra Salt Mine is being managed by Pakistan Mineral
Development Corporation (PMDC). According to availability of data with PMDC, it
is said that still large quantities of salt exist in its unexplored areas of the mines.
The annual production of salt at Khewra is about 300,000 tonnes according to the
data.

CAPACITY OF KHEWRA SALT MINE

According to the available data there is still enough salt to last about 400
years to come in the existing mines. These reports reveal that about 534, 512
tones of fine rock Salt had been extracted up to 1850 and till March 1923 the
production obtained from Khewra Salt Mines was 49,71,420 tones. Not only we
meet our salt requirements from the Khewra Salt Mines, but Pakistan also exports
salt to India to the tune of 10 thousand to 18 thousand tonnes annually. It is also a
source of earning foreign exchange for the government. Khewra Salt Mines has
1290 meters long tunnels. The mine is an open challenge to an adventurous spirit.
It has 17 levels and there are 50 feet of rock salt between each level in which there
are very large chambers, made when salt was extracted. It is pertinent to mention
here that Pakistan is a land of rich natural wealth including precious metals and
fluids beneath it like iron, gold, silver, bronze, gas, gypsum and rubies. The richness
of our soil is unbelievable having rich treasures of nature beneath the surface

PRODUCTION OF KHEWRA SALT MINE

Khewra Salt Mines produce about 4,66,000 tonnes salt per annum. Major portion of
production in the range of 2,80,000 to 3,20,000 tonnes annually is supplied to Imperial
Chemical Industries ICI Soda Ash Khewra. Based on Khewra salt ICI Soda Ash Plant
was established in 1938. Rock Salt produced from Khewra Mines besides ICI Khewra
is supplied to other Industrial consumers like Ittehad Chemical Limited, Sitara
Chemicals, and tanneries etc. Selected quality Rock Salt is supplied to dealers for
animal and human consumption. A reasonable quantity is also exported to foreign
countries including India. Decoration pieces like; lamps, vases, ash rays etc are also
made from Khewra Rock Salt and exported to foreign countries in large quantity by
some exporters.

ROLE FOR INDUSTRIES OF PAKISTAN

Manufacturing Process
Lamps are carefully hand-crafted and expertly chosen for their premium
colour and natural warmth. Strict quality control is used to ensure that each and every
lamp is an authentic richly-coloured salt with its own unique character.
The salt is then carefully shaped and weighed to provide you the perfect accent for
your home or business. Salt lamps and candles come in different sizes and shapes.

PROCESSING FOR SALT LAMP

 SALT BLOCKS

SALT BLOCKS FROM THE MINE BEFORE PRODUCTION

CUTTING OF ROCK BLOCKS WITH ELECTRIC CUTTER
MAKING & SHAPING OF LAMPS WITH HAND
SALT LAMPS AND TEALIGHT CANDLE READY FOR PACKING
 DRILLING A HOLE
IN A CANDLE

DRILLING A HOLE IN SELECTION OF BATH

SALT GRAINS BY HAND
A LAMP
 Natural Salt Lamps:
Natural salt lamps are beautiful, graceful, attractive and are more effective
as compare to electric air purifiers or electric ionizers. We are selling
our lamps cheaper than the others to benefit humanity.

FINAL SHAPE OF BEAUTIFUL SALT LAMP

Since 2002, the main tunnel of the mine has been converted into a tourist attraction.
Some of the websites we consulted claim 35000-40000 visitors come here every year.
In 2003 a major restoration work was carried out at the mines to make it a prime tourist
destination. Decorative light-work was done to make portions of mine a walk through
the glittering stars. The salt crystal found here is translucent? Which means it absorbs
Some light and reflects some. Depending upon the thickness, the salt rock glows when
it in many different shades. The tourist attractions inside the mine include:
Assembly Hall: It is the name given to a large chamber in the mine. It measures about
75m in height and fascinates tourists because stairs go circling around the hall to the top.

Pul-saraat: This is a Salt Bridge called the Pul-saraat. It has no pillars whatsoever to
support it. It is just a narrow strip of pure rock salt 20 to 25 feet in length and 5 feet thick
with 80 feet deep ponds of brine (Saltish Water) on both sides. Those who know the
meanings of real pul-saraat must be enjoying the creativity of people who thought about
naming this salt bridge as such.

Indoor Brine Ponds: Inside the mine there are certain chambers filled with saturated
brine solution. The salty water seeps through mine walls and roof and collects into these
chambers overtime. There are several such water-filled chambers in the mine but they
are very difficult to see in the dark. Only two such ponds have been illuminated for tourism
purposes.

ATTRACTIONS FOR TOURISTS IN KHEWRA SALT MINE

Badshahi Mosque: There is a mosque built inside the main tunnel of the mine. It is
called the "badshahi masjid". To beautify the mosque different colors of salt bricks have
been used. Red, Pink and White are the major shades of salt bricks. Between the Bricks
space has been provided for the electric bulbs to light the mosque.

Sheesh Mahal: The word Sheesh Mahal means 'Palace of Mirrors'. There is an area
called Sheesh Mahal in the mine named such for colorfully reflecting salt bricks. The salt
here is of light pink color and glows in many different shades under light.

The Great Wall of China, The Mall, Shimla Hill and Meenar-i-Pakistan: The salt walls
of the main tunnel have carvings of some famous structures which glow under light in
beautiful shades. These wall carvings include models of the Great Wall of China, the Mall
road of Murree, Lahore's Shimla hill, Minar-e-Pakistan Lahore etc. All these structures are
made of Salt that emits pink, white and red lights when lit up.

Narrow Gauge Electric Railway: A narrow gauge electric train transports visitors from
the visitor's gate to a track juncture some 500m inside the tunnel. Outside the tunnel one
can also see abandoned rails and small train wagons that were used here for salt
extraction since 1930s.

The fare structure for this train is expensive and kind of complicated. Fare for a ride is Rs.
250. Twelve people of a group can ride in this fare. For any person more than a group of
12, the fare is Rs 20 each.e.g. 13 people in a group will pay Rs 270 and so on.

ATTRACTIONS FOR TOURISTS IN KHEWRA SALT MINE

Pakistan Post Office, Khewra Salt Mine. Postal Code 48530: There is a fully
functional Post Office made of salt bricks inside the Mine. One can send postal mail all
over the World from here.

There is a full time postal employee stationed here.

Salt Crystal Formations: Such formations are abundant in the mine and are a big
tourist attraction. Some of them seem to grow upwards from the ground while others
hang from the roof. One such formation takes many decades to form therefore it is of
utmost importance that tourists don't touch or break them

Old Mining Machinery: Though not very well kept, one can spot old mining machinery
as well as bits and pieces of old railway lying around here and there. It is of abandoned
old rolling-stock which was in works circa 1930s.

There is also a briefing room for visitors as well as a souvenir shop located here. The
mine is open 9 am to 6 pm all year round.

ATTRACTIONS FOR TOURISTS IN KHEWRA SALT MINE

A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF A
MASJID BUILD WITH SALT
BLOCKS IN KHEWRA
SALT MINE TUNNEL
A BEAUTIFUL USE OF LIGHT IN TUNNEL TO CREATE A
GLAXY. IT LOOKS LIKE A DANCE FLOOR.
A RESTAURENT IS BUILD IN SALT TUNNEL FOR
VISITOR ENJOYMENT AND REFRESHMENT
CREATION OF RECEPTION/BRIEFING HALL: A reception/briefing hall has been
constructed to serve as reception center for tourists.
WALKWAY: The walkway from receipt/briefing hall to the Mine Mouth has been
constructed by fixing pavers for the smooth walk of tourist.
SOUVENIR SHOP: For the convenience of tourist, a souvenir shop has been
established in the reception/briefing hall area where tourists can find model lamps and
other articles made of salt.
ELECTRIC TRAIN: Electric train has been made available for tourists to have a joy ride
Up to main juncture inside the Mines.
REFRESHMENT: Seating arrangements have been made in side the mine.
Refreshments have been provided inside the mine, where kiosks have been fitted,
having sufficient capacity for tourists to relax and enjoy light refreshments.
MINE GUIDE: Trained male and female guides are available at the mine to conduct tour
of visitors inside the Mines.
MINE VISITING TIMES: Mine is open for tourist from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every day
including Sunday and gazetted holidays.

VISIT AND ENJOY A INFORMATIVE PICNIC

MAY ALLAH MAKE PAKISTAN AS A DEVELOPED COUNTRY
BY UTILIZING ALL OF ITS MINERAL AND OTHER
RESOURCES. AND PAKISTAN BECOME A
GREAT COUNTRY OF THE
WORLD.

THANKS