History Of Khewra Salt Mines

Khewra Salt Mines is located at the distance of 160 km from Islamabad and 260 km from Lahore in Pind Dadan Khan District Jhelum. It has easy approach via Lahore to Islamabad Motorway through Lilla Interchange. Discovery of Rock Salt dates back to days of Alexander the great. A complete history along with date as follows.

326 BC: It was in 326 BC. when khewra salt mine was discovered by licking of out crop salt by the soldiers of Alexander the Great who fought battle with Raja Pourus.

1500 AD: ASP Khan local leader of khewra informed the king akbar the extensive amount of salt deposits in khewra. Initial mining got started.

1809: Sikhs took over the mines from the mughals and made use of the salt present.

1849: British government took over the khewra salt mine from the sikhs and continued its rule over it.

1853: A spring of drinkable water was discovered and conveyed through khewra through a woden tunnel.

1856: Motorable road was built between khewra and P.D Khan

1872: Dr. Warth first cheif mining engineer who surveyed the complete mines. He introduced the advanced scientific mining system. He laid out main tunnel at the ground level.

1886: Railway Bridge ( Victoria) was constructed over the river jhelum between the railway junction Malikwal and khewra.

1889-90: Salt production crossed 50,000 metric tonnes.

1902: Hospital established to provide medical facilities to the miners and workers working in the salt mine.

1914: Production reached to 80,000 metric tonnes.

1918: For the very first time two steam engines were used in the mines to extract rock salt.

1924-25: Power house with two electric diesel generating sets of 500 Hp were installed.

1932: Chain cutter machines were improved further.

1933: Automatic laoding plant was installed in the mine.

1971: Mines were switched over to wapda electricity.

1974: Mines taken over from P.I.D.C

1998:Mining tub system switched over to tractor trolley system.

2002: Khewra Salt mines tourist resort was established.

2006: Extraction of salt halted and this is now being used as a torist visiting place.No more mining is done in khewra.