‘Pakistan Ka Namak’ hits markets in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar

Salts from the neighbouring Pakistan, termed ‘Pakistan Ka Namak’, have hit the markets in Bhubaneswar City. The salts are being sold at around Rs 100 per kilogram, sources said on Tuesday.

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However, the demand for the salts brought from Pakistan via Gujarat has not been known yet.

According to sources, two tractor-loads of the salts were seen being sold in Raghunathpur and its nearby localities on the main road connecting Nandankanan Zoo. Each piece of the rock salt and weighs around five to seven kilograms. The two types of minor minerals include Black Salt and Rock Salt.

“These salts are useful to control BP (blood pressure), sugar, and joint pain etc. We used to purchase this from Gujarati traders who in turn import the salts from Pakistan. These are nature-made and are edible salts. We have been selling the salts at the same place in Bhubaneswar for nearly the last month and a half,” a trader said to OTV.

Culinary applications of the salts

Black salt's sulfurous ‘eggy’ flavor enhances vegan dishes, while rock salt’s coarse texture makes it ideal for brining meats and therapeutic salt lamps. Their distinct profiles (black salt's umami vs. rock salt's mineral taste) cater to specific culinary traditions.

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Environmental and practical considerations

Rock salt's mining sustainability contrasts with black salt's microplastic contamination from processing. While rock salt lacks iodine, black salt's sulfur compounds may limit its use in general cooking despite its lower additive content.