Pakistan Navy announces participation of two Saudi warships in AMAN-25 naval drills

KARACHI: Pakistani Minister for Finance and Revenue, Muhammad Aurangzeb, held separate meetings on Monday with executives from Deloitte and the International Finance Corporation and discussed cooperation in multiple areas like energy and private sector reforms and critical minerals.

Aurangzeb left for the US last week to attend the World Bank Group/IMF Spring 2025 Meetings from Apr. 21-26. A statement from his office said on Saturday besides meeting with top officials of the World Bank and the IMF, the finance minister would also meet with finance ministers and counterpart leaders of China, the United States, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye and officials of global credit rating agencies, commercial and investment banks.

On Monday, Aurangzeb met Hela Cheikhrouhou, Regional Vice President of the International Finance Corporation, and her team.

“Both sides explored cooperation in the areas of private sector reforms, energy transition, sound municipal finance and full employment,” a statement from the finance ministry said. “The Minister appreciated the lead role of IFC in raising $2.5 billion in debt financing for Reko Diq Copper & Gold Mine Project in Balochistan. 

Aurangzeb also separately met with a team from Deloitte and briefed them on Pakistan’s macroeconomic outlook, the government’s sectoral development agenda and export-led growth priorities, the finance ministry said. 

“Explored cooperation in the areas of energy sector reforms, extraction and marketing of critical minerals, privatization, technology, crypto policy and operationalization of Country Partnership Framework (CPF),” the statement added. 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan exported $1.83 million (Rs512 million) worth of salt to China in the first three months of 2025, an increase of 40 percent compared to the same period last year, state-run media reported on Monday, showing the growing popularity of the product in the Chinese market. 

Pakistan primarily exports salt to the United States, Canada, China, the United Kingdom, and Japan. Other significant destinations include Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. Pakistan’s salt exports are known to be mined at the Khewra Salt Mine and surrounding deposits. 

The Khewra Salt Mine is one of the world’s oldest and second largest, turning out 325,000 tons of salt a year. The mine is renowned for producing Himalayan pink salt, which is popular globally for its unique color and health benefits. The mine contributes significantly to Pakistan’s exports, especially to China, and is also a major tourist attraction due to its historical and geological significance.

“Pakistan exported over 13.64 million kilograms of salt to China worth $1.83 million (Rs512 million) in the first quarter of 2025 whereas last year in the same period it was $1.3 million (Rs364 million),” the Associated Press of Pakistan said in a report, quoting Ghulam Qadir, the Trade and Investment Counsellor of Pakistan in Beijing.

“Pakistan is exporting salt to China under three categories, edible salt, pure sodium chloride and other salt.”

The report attributed the increase to better trade ties between the two nations and China’s increasing appetite for premium-grade edible salt as well as for salt for industrial consumption, particularly for use in the chemical, pharmaceutical and food processing sectors. 

Industry experts attributed Pakistan’s salt export growth to “improved logistics, competitive pricing and enhanced quality standards” adopted by Pakistani exporters.

“This surge is a testament to Pakistan’s expanding capacity to meet international market demands, and a positive sign for diversifying our exports to China,” the report said, quoting a Trade Development Authority of Pakistan official.