LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday launched the ‘Pink Salt Value Addition Financing Scheme’ and distributed cheques among 10 businesspersons who secured interest-free loans under the initiative.
The chief minister interacted with the beneficiaries and inquired about the value-added pink salt products, stressing the need to introduce such products to international markets under the Pakistani brands.
According to a briefing given by Provincial Mines and Minerals Minister Sher Ali Gorchani and Secretary Parvez Butt, the scheme carries an allocation of Rs5 billion for interest-free loans, with individual businesses eligible for up to Rs50 million financing. The Punjab government will bear Rs1.456bn in interest costs under the scheme.
They said that a 110-acre pink salt processing zone has been established in Quaidabad as a specialised industrial cluster to house 200 value-addition units and create employment opportunities for more than 10,000 people, while contributing to exports.
The chief minister was briefed that value addition, branding and development of pink salt products could help increase annual exports by up to $300 million.
“Pink salt is Pakistan’s uniqueness,” the chief minister said, adding that the country’s salt and labour were being used, while other countries were reaping the benefits.
The government, she added, would support young entrepreneurs and startups under the financing scheme and facilitate their access to global markets.
Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026
