Punjab is home to some of the most famous pink salt in the world, yet for decades most of it left the country as raw material while other countries earned the real profit from finished products. That picture is now changing. On 1 October 2026, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz launched the Pink Salt Value Addition Financing Scheme in Lahore and handed over cheques to the first 10 businesspersons who secured interest-free loans under it.
The message from the launch was simple: Pakistan should sell its pink salt as a branded, finished product under its own name, not as cheap raw salt. The scheme backs that goal with real money, a dedicated industrial zone and support for young entrepreneurs and startups.
What the Scheme Offers
Total allocation: Rs5 billion has been set aside for interest-free loans under the scheme.
Maximum loan: Each eligible business can receive financing of up to Rs50 million.
Interest cost: The Punjab government will bear Rs1.456 billion in interest costs, so the loans remain interest-free for borrowers.
First cheques: Cheques were distributed among 10 businesspersons at the Lahore launch ceremony.
Repayment: Loans are repaid in easy instalments over five years, according to the scheme’s launch details.
Who it supports: Established salt businesses as well as young entrepreneurs and startups working on value-added products.
A specialised 110-acre pink salt processing zone has been established in Quaidabad, in district Khushab, as an industrial cluster for value addition. According to the official briefing at the launch, the zone is planned to house 200 value-addition units and create employment for more than 10,000 people.
Processing and packaging: Units in the zone will process, brand and package pink salt products instead of shipping raw salt out.
Model retail outlet: A model outlet has been set up to promote pink salt branding, packaging, marketing and processing.
Pakistani brands: The chief minister stressed that finished products should reach international markets under Pakistani brands.
Startups welcome: New businesses and startups can also apply, with the government promising help in reaching global markets.
Why Value Addition Matters
Pink salt from Punjab’s mines, including the famous Khewra deposits, is sold around the world, but Pakistan has historically captured only a small share of its final value. At the launch, the chief minister described pink salt as Pakistan’s uniqueness and said the country’s salt and labour were being used while other countries reaped the benefits.
Officials briefed that value addition, branding and product development could increase annual pink salt exports by up to $300 million. That is the real prize of the scheme: turning a raw mineral into packaged food products, bath salts, lamps and other finished goods that sell for far more than unprocessed salt.
How Businesses Can Apply
Portal: Applications are made online through the Mines and Minerals Department’s portal, pinksalt.punjab.gov.pk.
Eligible activities: Processing, value addition, branding and packaging of pink salt products.
Loan range: Financing starts at Rs5 million and goes up to Rs50 million per business.
No closing date: No final deadline has been published in the official releases so far, so interested businesses should apply through the portal and watch for department announcements.
Warning: Apply only through the official portal. Do not pay any agent who promises approval against a fee.
No phone helpline was announced in the launch briefing
Conclusion
The Pink Salt Value Addition Financing Scheme is Punjab’s first serious attempt to keep the value of its pink salt at home. With Rs5 billion in interest-free loans, a dedicated 110-acre zone in Quaidabad and a target of $300 million in extra exports, the scheme gives salt businesses a genuine chance to build brands instead of selling raw material. Businesses interested in the scheme should apply through the official portal and keep an eye on department announcements for further rounds.
FAQs
How much loan can a business get under the pink salt scheme?
Between Rs5 million and Rs50 million per business, interest-free, with the Punjab government bearing the interest cost.
Where is the pink salt processing zone?
A 110-acre specialised zone has been established in Quaidabad, district Khushab, planned for 200 value-addition units and more than 10,000 jobs.
Can startups apply for the pink salt loan?
Yes. The chief minister said young entrepreneurs and startups would be supported under the financing scheme and helped to reach global markets.
Shahzad Sahil is the editor of plcpunjab.pk, covering Punjab government schemes including the Livestock Card, eligibility, registration and latest updates, with information verified from official sources for readers across Punjab.
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