Salt has been mined at Khewra since 320 BC, in an underground area of about 110 sq. km. Khewra salt mine has estimated total of 220 million tones of rock salt deposits. The current production from the mine is 325,000 tons salt per annum.
The mine-head buildings have 17 stories, with 11 below ground. The salt-mine is 945 feet above sea level and extends around 2,400 feet inside the earth from the mine-mouth. There are 17 working levels and the cumulative length of all tunnels is more than 40 km.
Salt occurs in the form of an irregular dome like structure. There are seven thick salt seams with a cumulative thickness of about 150 meters. At places the rock salt is 99% pure. Salt is transparent, white, pink, reddish to beef-color red. There are beautiful alternate bands of red and white color salt.
Discovery of the mine
It is said that when Alexander the Great visited sub-continent, coming across the Jhelum and Mianwali region , Khewra Salt Mines were discovered. The discovery of the mines was however was not made by Alexander nor his "allies", but interestingly by his horse.It is stated that when Alexander's army stopped here for rest , the horses started licking the stones.One of his soldiers took notice of it and when he tasted the rock stone , it was salty thus leading to the discovery of the mines.
Afterwards this mine was wholly purchased by a local RAJA and from that era to creation of Pakistan this mine remained property of locally living Raja's who were sons of Raja MAL.
They are interestingly linked to the nearest place called Malot Fort created by Raja MAL.
