LAHORE: CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz launches Chief Minister Pink Salt Value Addition Financing Scheme, an all-inclusive package aimed at developing Pakistan’s high-quality pink salt deposits by adding value to the mineral and marketing it worldwide under the “Made in Pakistan” brand name. The pink salt financing scheme launched by Maryam Nawaz CM Punjab also included the inauguration of a Pink Salt Mineral Processing Zone occupying 110 acres of land in the vicinity of Quaidabad.
“Pink Salt products will now bear the tag ‘Made in Pakistan’. The natural resources of Pakistan are the heritage of Pakistan and shall be preserved with total sincerity and responsibility.”
CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif
In the zero interest model, the single biggest monetary obstacle that stands in the way of manufacturers from participating in capital intensive industries is eliminated. The repayment period of five years for borrowing up to Rs 50 million for equipment purchase will allow the new entrepreneur sufficient time to set up business, forge exporting links, and earn profits.
The 110 Acres Processing Zone – An Industrial Eco-system
The Punjab pink salt funding project launched by Maryam Nawaz revealed that there would be a 110 acre Pink Salt Mineral Processing Zone developed near Quaidabad, which would help to provide industrial eco-system that individuals cannot create on their own. It would comprise:
- Over 200 processing units: forming a significant volume of salt processing business
- Rs150 million investment brought into the zone
- 10,000 job creation directly in the zone
- Business Facilitation Center: investor assistance and regulatory advice
- Model Retail Outlet: selling processed pink salt to local and foreign buyers
In the zone model, all the infrastructures for the supply chain, logistics capabilities, and investment facilities are located at one point, thus lowering the costs required to create the business and forming the industry cluster that will encourage more investments.
A USD 300 Million Export Plan
Government officials told the Chief Minister that the potential increase in exports through value addition from this product could earn up to USD 300 million annually as foreign exchange income.
This program of financing for Punjab’s pink salt scheme initiated by Maryam Nawaz aims to fill this gap through financing of the processing facilities required for turning Punjab’s mineral resources into marketable form that foreign customers want to buy.
Momentum Has Begun Early – Offers Have Started Pouring In
The funding scheme for the Punjab pink salt by Maryam Nawaz is not beginning with a blank slate since the officials revealed that:
- Offers in phase one stood at Rs471 million
- Offers in phase two have already accumulated to Rs2.5 billion
The jump in offers from Rs471 million to Rs2.5 billion within the phases indicates that there has been an accelerated rise in investors’ interest in processing pink salt, which the interest-free financing scheme aims to turn into production units.
Made in Pakistan – A Brand Identity Promise
The Punjab pink salt financing project by Maryam Nawaz has a branding aspect which is equally strategic for the finance provided. By pledging to put “Made in Pakistan” label on pink salt products by CM Maryam Nawaz, there is an effort made to close a longstanding gap regarding the branding of Pakistani mineral exports – whereby the Pakistani raw materials get exported, get manufactured in another country and get sold under their label.
Nayab Fatima is a media professional specializing in fact-based journalism, research, and analytical reporting on technology, telecom, aviation, and automobiles.
