Misbranding of Pakistan’s Khewra Salt by India raises global concerns
Islamabad: Reports indicate that Indian traders are systematically misbranding Pakistan’s Khewra Pink Salt in international markets, particularly in Thailand, by relabelling it as “Indian Himalayan Salt,” raising serious concerns over violation of geographical indication (GI) rights.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Khewra Salt Mine, known as the world’s second-largest salt reserve, produces high-quality pink rock salt enriched with more than 80 trace minerals.
Despite its official GI registration in Pakistan, traders are allegedly routing raw salt through third countries such as the UAE, purchasing it at low prices and reselling it globally under Indian branding with significant markups.
The global market for Himalayan pink salt continues to expand, making the issue of origin and authenticity increasingly critical.
Experts note that such geographic misrepresentation undermines sovereign branding rights and may violate international obligations under the WTO TRIPS Agreement, which protects geographical indications against misleading use.
Similar patterns of rebranding have reportedly been observed in other sectors, prompting calls for Pakistan to expedite international GI registrations, particularly in markets like Thailand, where legal protection requires local registration.
Observers emphasize that stronger regulatory measures, value addition, and global branding strategies are essential to safeguard the identity of Khewra salt and ensure Pakistan fully benefits from its natural resources.KMS
