Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) is planning to increase export of salt to the United States and European markets. "India is the main importer of our salt but we are also planning to increase our salt export to the European and US markets," PMDC Managing Director Brigadier Mohammad Khalid Sajjad Khokhar told newsmen on Tuesday.
The Corporation, he said, was presently exporting 5,000 tons of salt annually which would be increased in days ahead, adding the production of salt, coal and other minerals had increased and benefits were being passed on to the workers.
The PMDC MD said decoration pieces like lamps, vases, ashtrays, statues made from Khewra rock salt were very popular in foreign countries and were being exported in large quantities by some private firms.
Brigadier Khalid Sajjad said the process of the privatisation of the corporation was going ahead, however, the rights and interests of the workers would be protected.
He said the number of the tourists of Khewra Salt Mines was increasing and now more than 150,000 local and foreign tourists visit that beautiful mine every year.
In reply to a question, he said the Corporation had already entered into long-term agreements with cement factories for supply of coal from Sor Range collieries and Lakhra coal mines.
The PMDC MD said several cement factories had also approached the PMDC for supply of coal, adding, "We are envisaging development plans to enhance production of coal to meet demand of other cement plants."
About recently built 50-bed Asthma hospital in Khewra Salt mines, he said, it would become operational in few weeks. The hospital had been set up inside Khewra Salt mines at a cost of Rs 50 million and would provide unique medical treatment to asthma patients in line with the latest research, he added.
He said the its building had been constructed inside the salt mine while the necessary equipment and para-medical staff would soon be made available.
According to scientific research, salt mines were the best place for cure of Asthma patients, he said and added in Khewra Salt Mine, natural treatment of Asthma would be carried out by simply spending some time inside the mine and inhaling salty air by asthmatics.
He said the Asthma hospital would be a unique example in the country where patients would be cured for three weeks so that they could get rid of that fatal disease permanently.
In this regard, he said the Corporation Chief Medial Officer was sent to Poland for study and survey of hospital set up at Vieliczka Salt Mines and patients would be provided treatment under the research done at Vieliczka Salt Mines.
The MD announced that poor patients would get free treatment while a nominal fee would be charged from wealthy people.
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