India-Pakistan News / This decision of India ruined this business of Pakistan

India-Pakistan News: After India banned the import of 'Himalayan Pink Salt' from Pakistan, it has proved to be a big setback for the salt exporters of Pakistan. This decision was taken after the terrorist attack which took place in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April and in which 26 innocent people lost their lives. Taking this attack seriously, India ended all trade relations with Pakistan with immediate effect.

Big blow to Pakistan's salt industry

Pakistan is the largest producer and exporter of rock salt, especially 'Himalayan Pink Salt' in the world. About 30 processing units are working in its largest mine located in Khewra area of ​​​​Punjab province. In the year 2024, Pakistan exported a total of 3.5 lakh tonnes of rock salt, whose estimated global price was around $ 120 million.

Mansoor Ahmed, Senior Director of Pakistani company 'Ghani International', said that India has been the largest importer of Pakistan so far. He claims that India used to buy Pakistani salt in raw form, process it and sell it to other countries at high prices under its brand name. Ahmed also claimed that only Pakistan produces real Himalayan rock salt, not India or China.

Strategy of Pakistani exporters: Finding new markets

Although the blow from India was sharp, Pakistan's salt producers are not disappointed. Saima Akhtar, head of the Rock Salt Producers Association (SMAP), said that this salt is already in tremendous demand globally. While its price in India was Rs 45-50 per kg, now the same salt is being sold in the Indian market for Rs 70-80 per kg, due to which Indian consumers are also facing the brunt of inflation.

Ittefaq Companies CEO Shahzad Javed said that salt exports to China increased by 40 percent in the first quarter of 2025. In the March quarter, about 136.4 crore kg of salt was sold to China for $ 18.3 lakh.

Now Pakistan is also targeting countries like the US, Vietnam, Malaysia, Australia, Turkey, Netherlands, Italy, Britain, Brazil, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, Russia and the United Arab Emirates. Pakistani exporters say they are now "going from street to street" looking for new importers.

India's tough policy and step towards self-reliance

This decision of India is not just a trade policy but a symbol of its 'zero tolerance' policy against terrorism. India not only wants to isolate Pakistan economically but also wants to develop self-reliance in commodities like rock salt by promoting domestic industries.