KHEWRA TOURIST RESORT |
The main tunnel at ground level developed by Dr. Warth in 1872 has been converted into Tourist Resort. Thousands of tourists visit Khewra Salt Mines every year. They are fascinated by nature’s beauty inside the mountain. Nearly 230,000 to 240,000 visitors, comprising college students, general public, and foreigners visit Salt Mines Khewra every year. The Salt Mines Khewra has developed as a big attraction for the tourist. Impressed by the interest of the tourist, the PMDC Management launched “Khewra Salt Mines Resort Development Project” in February, 2002 with an estimated cost of Rs.4.2 million which now has been increased by another Rs.3 million. |
| Khewra Salt Mines Tourist Resort has been developed by PMDC with its own resources. Inside the Mine a beautiful mosque made of different shades of rock salt bricks has been constructed – hollow walls of salt bricks when lighted gives a beautiful look. A large chamber called “Assembly Hall” measuring more than 250 ft in height fascinates tourists. There are certain chambers filled in with saturated brine solution. These ponds when illuminated with fancy lights give splendid look. There is an area of transparent salt of light pink colour known as “Shish Mahal”. Different chambers are connected with salt bridges over water ponds and when illuminated with lights show marvelous reflection of different colours of salt. The development programme envisages creation and development of following facilities at Khewra Salt Mines in the first phase of development programme, which have since been completed. |
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Asthma treatment at Khewra Salt Mine |
A centuries-old salt mine is offering experimental asthma therapy, attracting patients from all over the world.Asthma treatment at Khewra salt mine 1/6 Khewra salt mine in Khewra, some 160 kms southeast of Islamabad, billed as the world's second largest salt mine, has for centuries extracted the crucial mineral for export and has become a tourist attraction complete with a salt mosque and an electric train. Now, the mine is cashing in on salt therapy, an experimental treatment for asthma, already a draw in the salt mines of Eastern Europe and a synthetic clinic in Britain. The mine, located 160km south of Islamabad, was discovered in 320 BC by Alexander’s troops and first developed by British colonial rulers in 1872, mine officials say. Located deep underground in the mine, the asthma clinic resembles an upmarket guesthouse, with 12 beds covered in white sheets and red blankets in six independent cabins separated with salt bricks and softly lit by lamps. There is a reception area decorated with salt lamps and a lounge complete with a fountain, sofas and a television set. The walls and roof of the clinic are made from pure salt and a fan helps maintain the temperature and humidity, creating the so-called “micro-climate” that offers patients relief, Dr Shah says.
Since opening in 2007, the clinic has treated about 500 patients. Dr Shah claims that 60 per cent of patients experience some relief from their symptoms and says patients have come from as far as Britain and Saudi Arabia. But Shahid Abbas, a doctor who runs the private Allergy and Asthma Centre in Islamabad, said that although an asthma or allergy sufferer may get temporary relief, there is no quick-fix cure. “There is no scientific proof that a person can permanently get rid of asthma by breathing in a salt mine or in a particular environment,” he said.
Khaled Sajjad Khokhar, managing director of the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation, a government body which owns the mine, says they will assess the success of the Khewra clinic before approving its expansion to 100 beds. But some patients are returning, happy to get even temporary relief. “This hospital is a blessing, it gave me a second life. “I never had problems breathing after spending 10 days over there in 2007,” said Adnan Khan, on his second visit to the clinic.
Sources: Dawn News
