LAHORE (Lord Media): Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif digitally inaugurated the Chief Minister Pink Salt Value Addition Financing Scheme to boost the industry, employment, and exports of pink salt in Punjab. A 110-acre pink salt mineral processing zone near Quaidabad was also announced.
The inauguration revealed plans for over 200 industrial units within the proposed processing zone, with an expected investment of 150 million rupees, creating direct employment for 10,000 people. A business facilitation center and model retail outlet will also be established for investor convenience.
According to the briefing, new investors can obtain interest-free loans ranging from 5 lakh to 5 crore rupees for processing, grinding, refining, cleaning, and packaging of pink salt, with a repayment period of five years.
It was announced that the value addition of pink salt could generate up to 300 million U.S. dollars in foreign exchange annually. In the first phase, bids for pink salt reached 471 million rupees, while offers worth 2.5 billion rupees have been received in the second phase.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif stated that the financing scheme would create new job opportunities and boost global exports of pink salt. She highlighted the potential for increased exports of packaged, processed, and decorative salt products.
She invited investors to submit online applications via the Mines and Minerals Department’s website.
