Pink Himalayan Salt and product and Rice

🇵🇰 Himalayan Salt (Pink Salt of Pakistan)

• Origin & Geology: Harvested mainly at the historic Khewra Salt Mine located in the Salt Range of Punjab, Pakistan, Himalayan salt is a form of rock salt (halite) formed from ancient Himalayan evaporite deposits captured roughly 540–600 million years ago. The mine has produced about 350,000 tonnes per year from among hundreds of millions of tonnes in existing reserves. It was first spotted by Alexander the Great's army in 326 BC, with large-scale extraction beginning in the Mughal era and modern “room-and-pillar” techniques introduced under British engineers in 1872
• Physical Properties: Its signature light to deep pink hue comes from trace amounts of iron oxide and other minerals (e.g. magnesium, potassium, calcium).
• Uses: Widely used as a culinary salt (especially for finishing or coarse‑grinding on meats, salads, desserts), decorative lamps, spa bath salts, and wellness products. While some spa treatments and salt lamps remain trendy, claims of detox or therapeutic benefits lack strong scientific evidence health very well.

🇵🇰 Pakistani Rice (Especially Basmati)

• Economic & Global Standing: Rice is one of Pakistan’s top five export commodities and a pillar of its agricultural economy. The country produced approximately 9.5 million tonnes in 2024–25, exporting around 5.8 million tonnes (3.9 million in FY 23–24, ≅ $3.93 billion) and earning around $3.36 billion by mid‑2025. Basmati, though only about 12–15% of export volume, brings a higher per‑tonne price and accounted for ≈ $780–830 million of revenue in the first nine months of FY25. Non‑Basmati rice makes up the bulk of export volume but has lower margins