Warcha salt mine is an active salt mine located in the village of Warcha, Khushab District, Punjab, Pakistan. It has over 1 billion tonnes of reserves of 98% pure (on average), transparent, crystalline sodium chloride salt. The mine was opened in 1872 and currently produces over 200,000 tons of rock salt annually, with the potential to double its production capacity.
Location
The mine is situated at coordinates 32°24′46″N 71°57′57″E in the village of Warcha, within the Quaidabad Tehsil of Khushab District, Punjab Province, Pakistan.
History
During the Mughal era, Warcha was a princely state ruled by the Phulial family, a sub-caste of the Awan tribe. The rulers were called the Chiefs of Warcha, of whom Nawab Surkhuru was the last. In 1834, following the collapse of the Mughal Empire, Sardar Hari Singh Nalwa, Commander-in-Chief of the Sikh Army, conquered and took control of Warcha and its mines.
In the 1860s, the British government took over the Warcha mine and placed it under the administrative control of the Excise and Custom Department of British India. The British introduced the room and pillar mining method at Warcha. Development of the main mine began in 1868, and production started in 1872.
In 1962, the mine was transferred to the West Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation. Since 1974, it has been owned and managed by the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC).
Operations
The mine produces white and pink rock salt using the traditional room and pillar extraction method. The salt is 98% pure on average. The mine has the capacity to increase its annual production beyond the current 200,000 tons.
