KARACHI: Ismail Suttar, the Founding Chairman of the Salt Manufacturers Association of Pakistan (SMAP), has expressed deep concern over the recent announcement by Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, regarding a potential ban on the export of raw pink Himalayan salt. Suttar described the situation as unfortunate, criticizing the government for what he sees as a pattern of detrimental decisions.
In a statement, Suttar expressed surprise at the remark from the Chief Minister’s office, pointing out that it was made without consulting the stakeholders of the salt industry. The association had anticipated a meeting with the Punjab government as primary stakeholders before any final decision was announced, in order to discuss the potential consequences of such a measure.
Suttar noted, “We are already facing significant debt and cannot afford decisions that appear to be politically motivated. In Pakistan, 70 percent of mining activities are carried out by the private sector, while only 30 percent are managed by government organizations like the Pakistan Minerals Development Corporation (PMDC), which itself relies on private contractors for mining. Despite this, a small minority in the government makes decisions that affect everyone, regardless of whether it suits the broader industry.”
He suggested that decisions affecting industries should be made through a structured, methodical process rather than based on political considerations. He cited the example of Muhammad Lutfi, the Trade Minister of Indonesia, who held extensive consultations with stakeholders before the Indonesian government decided to ban the export of raw nickel.
“Value addition is not an overnight process. It requires time, investment, and significant research to develop a product that meets international market standards while preparing industries for this transition. Only after this process is complete should a country consider imposing a ban on the export of raw minerals,” Suttar said.
He added that if the Punjab government is determined to boost exports of value-added products, it should consider processing other valuable minerals such as lithium, rare earth elements, bromine, and sulphate of potash, which could potentially generate billions of dollars.
SMAP is not opposed to the idea of banning the export of raw salt if it is deemed beneficial for the country. However, the association requests that the government involve the relevant stakeholders in discussions before making decisions that could endanger the remaining exports of the country.