The Khewra Salt Mine, also known as the Mayo Salt Mine, is situated in Khewra, north of Pind Dadan Khan, within the administrative subdivision of Jhelum District in the Punjab Region of Pakistan. Positioned in the Salt Range of the Potowar Plateau, which ascends from the Indo-Gangetic Plain, it stands as Pakistan’s largest and the world’s second-largest salt mine.
Renowned for its production of pink Khewra salt, the mine serves as a significant tourist attraction, welcoming approximately 250,000 visitors annually. Its rich history traces back to its discovery by Alexander the Great’s troops in 320 BC, with commercial operations commencing during the Mughal era. The primary tunnel at ground level was developed by Dr. H. Warth, a mining engineer, in 1872, during the British colonial rule.
Following independence, the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation assumed control of the mine, maintaining its status as the largest salt source in the country. Presently, it produces over 350,000 tons annually of approximately 99% pure halite. Estimates of salt reserves within the mine range from 82 million tons to 600 million tons, affirming its significant contribution to the salt industry.
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