Khewra residents urge reopening of salt mines

Closure due to Covid-19 lockdown impacts livelihoods

PIND DADAN KHAN: Following the announcement by Prime Minister Imran Khan on relaxing the lockdown, people of the mining town of Khewra have demanded that the salt mines in the area should be reopened.

The historic mines are not only important commercially for the town thanks to its miles-long tunnels of rock salt, but is also a major tourist attraction for the region.

Locals have called upon the government and the Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, whose constituency includes the mines, to reopen spot under strict standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Established by the British in 1916, the Khewra salt mine is said to be the second-largest in the world, an official working at the mine said.

Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC), an autonomous corporation which operates under the administrative control of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resource, is responsible for operating the mines, he said.

Pink granular salt extracted from the mines is exported to neighbouring countries including India and as far away as Germany, he said.

Besides a viable commercial venture, these mines are an exquisite attraction for tourists, both local and foreign.

People are offered a ride in decorated trolleys, which takes them hundreds of feet into the depths of the earth where a specially curated set of attractions have been kept including an illuminated mosque made of salt and a chamber with lights dancing off the raw, glittering salt rocks.

Apart from stalls selling ornaments made out of the Himalayan salt rock inside the mine, the entire road leading to and from the mines house numerous stalls selling similar wares.

However, with the mine closed for the visitors since March 15, those working at the mine and in its surrounding areas, and artisans and traders who earned by selling beautifully carved models made of rock salt, as well as food stallholders, have lost their livelihoods.

It is also causing losses worth millions of rupees for the PMDC.

An official of the corporation told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity, as he was not authorised to talk to the media, said that rough estimates suggest the closure of the salt mine for over two months has caused a loss of Rs40 million.

He said that livelihood of around 70 per cent population of Khewra town was directly or indirectly linked to the salt mine. This includes many as 684 miners and assistant miners who are directly employed at the mines in addition to more than 150 daily-wage workers. These people have been laid-off due to closure of the salt mine.

Businessmen running souvenir shops and restaurants are also in dire straits, he said.

Others that have been affected due to the closure of the mine include those who offer horse and camel rides to the visitors.

Subsequently, the PMDC officials said that the reopening of the spot can economically revive the area and ease the plight of locals.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2020.