Salt Range is an area of great natural beauty that covers approx 2,500 sq km area. The place is a geologist’s dream with a rich variety of minerals and rocks. World’s 2 nd largest Salt Mines are located here at Khewra, accessible via M-2 motorway about 260 km from Lahore and 160 km from Islamabad. Khewra City is also known as The Kingdom of Salt because of rock salt which is 98% pure and natural source of Salt in Pakistan. The Salt Mines extend from River Jehlum to Indus, covering an area of around 250 square kilometers. Interestingly, salt existence was discovered by Alexander’s horses during 326 BC. Later Mughals mined salt from here on commercial scale, and the British further systemized mining process by establishing a railway line. There are many attractions for visitors inside including Salt Minaret, salt Mosque, Salt Palace, Asthma Hospital, etc which are accessible either by foot or through a mini train ride. Also a souvenir shop houses rock salt objects for sale.
The M-2 motorway leading to the Salt-Ranges (mountain-ranges) is up to international standards but once you are on the mountains then the road becomes very narrow, winding & treacherous and there are hundreds of meters deep ditches littered & lined with gagged rocks. It's a two-way road so vehicles coming oppositely have to get too close to the edge of the road near to the ditch or the mountain cliffs. There are big & heavy dumpers bringing rocks from the queries so one has to drive very carefully. Anyway it was an adrenaline rushing & thrill seeking experience for me but not for everybody as the ditches are too deep to for a faint of heart easily. There is road construction & maintenance going on the road which makes it even more narrower.
Khewra mine is situated at the foothills of the Salt Range, Khewra Salt Mines are the oldest in the salt mining history of the sub-continent. The Salt Range originated 800 million years ago when evaporation of a shallow sea followed by under thrusting of the Indian Plate formed a range that stretched for about 300 kilometers. Situated at the foothills of the Salt Range, Khewra Salt Mines are the oldest in the salt mining history of the sub-continent. Salt occurs in the form of an irregular dome like structure. There are seven thick salt seams with cumulative thickness of about 150 meters. At places rock salt is 99% pure. Salt is transparent, white, pink, reddish to beef-color red. In certain horizons it is crystalline. Inside the mine there are beautiful alternate bands of red and white color salt. There are 18 working levels. Cumulative length of all drivages is more than 40 km.
Int'l Ranking: Second largest in the world.
Location: 160km south of Islamabad, PK.
Leased area: 3,398.53 acres 3,398.53 acres.
Geological Horizon: Pre-Cambrian.
Purity of salt: Average 98%.
Shades of salt: White, Pink and Red.
Mining method: Room and Pillar.
Total Resources: Over one Billion.
Production: 258,126 tons (2021-22).
Sales: 258,891 tons (2021-22).
MAY 28-2023.