Is Pakistani Pink Salt the Same as Himalayan Salt?
Look closely at a bag labelled “Himalayan salt” and you will find that it usually comes from Pakistan, not from anywhere near the Himalayan mountains. It is not quite a labelling error, but it is a naming quirk that buyers should understand, particularly if they want to describe their products accurately.
Where the Salt Actually Comes From
Most of the salt sold worldwide as Himalayan salt is mined at the Khewra Salt Mine and nearby deposits in the Salt Range of Punjab, Pakistan. The Salt Range runs for roughly 200 kilometres from the Jhelum River to the Indus, south of the Pothohar Plateau. It sits close to the Himalayas but is geologically distinct from them, a separate formation from the mountain chain further north and east.
Why Is It Called “Himalayan” Salt?
The name is largely a marketing convention that stuck. The Salt Range lies in the foothill region that popular geography links with the Himalayas, and as the salt grew in popularity, “Himalayan salt” became the standard commercial name. It most likely won out because it sounds more evocative, and is easier for international consumers to place, than “Salt Range rock salt” or “Khewra salt.”
Pakistan’s Push for Its Own Geographical Identity
The generic name does not credit where the product really comes from, and Pakistan has taken formal steps to change that. In July 2022, Pakistani authorities registered Khewra Pink Rock Salt as a Geographical Indication. The move is comparable to the protection India holds for basmati rice. Its aim is to tie the product’s name and reputation to its place of origin and to give Pakistani producers a stronger legal footing to protect that link internationally.
What This Means for Buyers
In practice, salt sold as “Himalayan pink salt” by a reputable supplier and salt sold as “Khewra Pink Rock Salt” or “Pakistani pink salt” are, in nearly every case, the same product from the same source region.
Buyers who need to be exact about origin claims, especially for premium or geographically branded lines, may prefer the more precise regional or country-of-origin wording over the generic “Himalayan” label. That is likely to matter more as the terminology gains formal protection.
A few practical steps help:
• Ask suppliers to confirm the specific mine or region the salt was sourced from, not just a generic “Himalayan” label.
• Consider using “Pakistani pink salt” or “Khewra pink salt” on product labels where accuracy and provenance matter to your customers.
• Request documentation confirming country of origin for customs and labelling compliance in your destination market.
Saremco Impex sources its pink salt directly from Pakistan’s Salt Range and can provide origin documentation for every shipment. To confirm sourcing details for your order, contact Saremco Impex.