Despite the post-Pahalgam blanket ban on Pakistani imports, Himalayan pink salt continues to flow through informal networks, openly sold by street vendors in markets across Rajasthan and Noida — and eagerly lapped up by consumers. A report by Tehelka SIT
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 7 changed the display pictures on his social media handles to mark one year of Operation Sindoor and urged citizens to do the same as a tribute to the Armed Forces and their success. Launched by India on May 7, 2025, Operation Sindoor was a calibrated military response to the April 22 terror attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 civilians were killed. The operation had aimed to destroy cross-border terrorist infrastructure and deter further attacks by Pakistan-based outfits. The four-day operation involved coordinated action by the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy, ultimately leading to a ceasefire after nine terror-linked sites in Pakistan were successfully targeted.
On the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, a Tehelka investigation has exposed how a Pakistani product continues to be sold openly on Indian streets and used in nearly 80 percent of Indian homes despite the post-Pahalgam ban on imports from Pakistan. It is not rice, vegetables or millets. The item in question is rock salt, a key ingredient used in Hindu religious ceremonies. Rock salt, or “Sendha Namak” as it is popularly known, holds significance in Hindu culture and traditions for reasons rooted in Vedic scriptures. Often referred to as Pakistani salt or Lahori namak, it is also widely used during fasting rituals such as Navratri.
Much of the rock salt used in India has historically been imported from Pakistan because the mineral is not naturally found in India in significant quantities. In recent years, however, India has attempted to reduce its dependence on the neighbouring country by sourcing the product from other nations. Known variously as pink salt or Himalayan salt, rock salt is found in abundance in Pakistan’s Punjab province, home to gigantic Khewra salt mine — the world’s second largest — which produces nearly 4.5 lakh tonnes of salt annually. While India is largely self-sufficient in most commodities, rock salt remained one of the few key items imported from Pakistan on a large scale and used in around 80 percent of Indian households.
However, after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, and before India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, Himalayan pink salt of Pakistani origin was effectively banned in India. New Delhi prohibited all direct and indirect imports from Pakistan, including goods routed through third countries such as the UAE. Since May 2, 2025, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has barred the import of all Pakistani goods, including Himalayan pink salt or rock salt. The ban remains in force even today. Yet, this Tehelka investigation has found that Pakistani pink salt, or “Sendha Namak”, continues to be sold illegally on Indian streets despite the restrictions.
During the investigation, Tehelka found a growing number of vendors selling pink salt from trucks and tempos in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu and in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Many of these vendors, both men and women, had come from Rajasthan, while some were from Uttar Pradesh. They parked their vehicles along roadsides to conduct brisk business. Vendors spoken to by Tehelka claimed that the salt being sold was transported from Pakistan through Punjab or Rajasthan. If the salt continues to be imported from Pakistan despite the ban, the matter warrants immediate investigation by law enforcement agencies.
“This pink salt is coming from Pakistan through smuggling. I don’t know much about it, but my son does. Big businessmen based in Punjab and Rajasthan are procuring this salt from Pakistan, and we get it from them — around 2-3 tonnes at one go,” said Roshni, a street vendor selling pink salt in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu, to an undercover Tehelka reporter.
“For the last 10 years, I have been openly selling this Pakistani pink salt on the streets of Jhunjhunu. People come and buy it from me in quintals,” she said.
“Indians like Pakistani pink salt. They do not prefer Indian Tata salt and we hardly have any sale of it. Pakistani pink salt is also considered good for health. It reduces the chances of diseases,” Roshni claimed while speaking to the reporter.
“Last year, after the Pahalgam attack, when India banned all trade with Pakistan, businessmen sold old stocks of Pakistani pink salt at higher rates. Now this Pakistani pink salt has again started coming into India from Pakistan,” she added.
“This is Lahori namak from Pakistan and it reaches me through Rajasthan. This salt is good for health. If you have swelling in any part of your body, this Pakistani pink salt helps reduce it,” said Shiv Kumar Chaudhary, another street vendor in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, to an undercover Tehelka reporter.
“I can guarantee that the pink salt I am selling is from Pakistan. If you do not believe me, take my phone number and return the salt if you find it is not Pakistani,” Shiv Kumar added.
“I am selling Pakistani Lahori namak in Sector 78, Noida, from 10 in the morning till 7 in the evening, with a guarantee that it is pure. If you want, I can provide 100-150 kg of Pakistani Lahori namak,” said Arvind, another street vendor from Noida, to our undercover reporter.
Tehelka’s spy camera first caught Roshni, who goes only by her first name, in Jhunjhunu selling banned Pakistani Himalayan pink salt, popularly known as “Sendha namak” or “Lahori namak”. She had stationed her truck by the roadside and was openly selling the salt.
Our undercover reporter’s brief exchange with Roshni quickly turns revealing as our undercover reporter repeatedly asks how the Pakistani pink salt reaches India. Without much hesitation, she admits that the salt crosses the border and eventually acknowledges that it comes through smuggling. Though she claims her son knows more details about the route and network, her replies indicate that the trade is continuing despite the ban. The chat also reflects how casually such claims are being made by street-level sellers.
Reporter — Ye aata kaise hai Pakistan se?
Roshni — Pakistan se la kar dete hain.
Reporter — Border paar karke aata hoga?
Roshni — Haan, uska border paar karte hain… pata na kya karte hain, ladke ko pata hai.
Reporter — Wo smuggling jo hoti hai, wo?
Roshni — Haan.
Reporter — Smuggling hokar aata hai?
Roshni — Haan.
[The dialogue suggests that vendors are openly aware of the illegal route through which the banned Pakistani salt is entering India. It also shows how loosely regulated the trade appears to be at the ground level. When smugglers operate so openly, enforcement agencies clearly have uncomfortable questions to answer.]
In the following exchange, Roshni explains how the supply of Pakistani pink salt was affected when tensions between India and Pakistan escalated last year after Pahalgam terror attack and consequent Operation Sindoor. She says the salt stopped coming for some time after the conflict, leading traders to sell old stock at sharply higher prices. During the chat, she repeatedly refers to the product as “Lahori namak” and claims it was being sold at Rs 150-200 per kg at the time. Her remarks suggest that despite restrictions, the trade resumed once supply channels reopened.
Reporter — Abhi Pakistan se ladai chal rahi thi, tab aa raha tha?
Roshni — Jab nahi aa raha tha, jab to band ho jata hai. Tab to mehnga dete hain ye seth maal.
Reporter — Abhi pichle saal ladai hui thi Pakistan se?
Roshni — Jab band ho gaya tha aana… jab band ho jata hai na, tab seth mehnga dete hain maal.
Reporter — Accha, tab Pakistani maal tumhe mehnga de rahe they. To tumhe kitne ka de rahe they tab, pichle saal jab ladai hui thi?
Roshni — Pichle saal bahut mehnga kharid kar laaye they hum. Sabse mehnga ye wala— Lahori.
Reporter — Lahori namak hai ye?
Roshni — Kabhi isko Lahori boltey hain, kabhi pink salt boltey hain.
Reporter — Accha, ye Lahore se aata hoga. Kya rate tha pichle saal?
Roshni — Bech rahe they 150-200 rupees kilo.
[The dialogue shows how scarcity of the banned pink salt caused prices to shoot up, turning the product into a profitable trade. Illegal markets often survive because demand continues even when official trade stops.]
In the exchange below, the vendor claims that traders continued selling old stocks of Pakistani pink salt even after trade restrictions were imposed. Thereafter, they managed to procure limited supply, she added. She says the consignments earlier arrived in very large quantities and that she currently sources the product from dealers based in Amritsar through phone orders.
Reporter- Sethon ke paas kahan se aa raha tha maal, jab Pakistan se band ho gaya tha?
Roshni- Wo pehle ka rakha hua bechtey they. Thoda bahut, thodi mangwate hain, wo 100 ki 100 gadi aati hai.
Reporter- Pakistan ki?
Roshni- Haan, Pakistan ki.
Reporter- Ye seth kahan rehtey hain sab?
Roshni- Hum to Amritsar se letey hain.
Reporter- Amritsar se kaise aata hai?
Roshni- Hamarey aise phone par kar detey hain.
[The chat indicates that existing stock and informal supply links may have helped Pakistani pink salt remain available in local markets despite restrictions imposed by the government on imports from the neighbouring country after Pahalgam attack. It also reflects how demand often keeps parallel trade channels active even after official bans are announced.]
Despite the ban on Pakistani goods still being in place a year after the Pahalgam attack, Roshni revealed that Pakistani salt had started flowing into India again. The vendor claims that Pakistani pink salt had temporarily stopped reaching the market after restrictions were imposed. However, she says the supply later resumed and the product started being sold again in local markets.
Reporter- Ab ye kab se aa raha hai Pakistani namak? Beech mein band ho gaya tha?
Roshni- Haan, band ho gaya tha. Uske baad phir aana shuru ho gaya.
Reporter- Phir bik raha hai?
Roshni- Haan.
[The dialogue suggests that the supply of Pakistani pink salt may have restarted after earlier restrictions. It also shows how demand for certain products can keep market networks active even when official trade routes are disrupted.]
In this exchange, Roshni claims that the pink salt being sold is Pakistani and says it reaches local sellers through traders operating from cities such as Amritsar, Bikaner and Jaisalmer. She further alleges that large businessmen procure the stock in bulk consignments of two to three tonnes before distributing it among smaller vendors.
Reporter- Ye sara Pakistani namak hai?
Roshni- Haan, Pakistani namak hai.
Reporter- Pakistani namak khila rahi ho Hindustaniyon ko!?
Roshni- Hum kya lete hain, peeche se seth log lete hain. Amritsar se letey hain hum to gaadi mangwa lete hain.
Reporter- Ye Pakistani namak Amritsar se aata hai?
Roshni- Haan, bade bade shehron mein aata hai ye — Bikaner, Jaisalmer.
Roshni (continues)- Bade-bade seth maal kharid kar detey hain hume.
Reporter- Bade-bade seth kharidtey hain Pakistan se?
Roshni- Haan, hum sare (vendors) mil ke ek badi gaadi mangwa letey hain, 2-3 tonne ka maal.
[The chat points to the existence of organised supply links behind the sale of Pakistani pink salt in local markets. It also suggests that bulk procurement and dealer networks may be helping the product circulate despite restrictions on imports.]
In the interaction below, the vendor openly claims that she tells customers the pink salt being sold is from Pakistan. She says people have continued buying it in large quantities for nearly a decade and that she has been selling the product for the last 10 years in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu.
Reporter- To tum ye namak sabko bata kar bechti ho ki Pakistan ka hai?
Roshni- Haan, jhooth kyun bolenge bhai.
Reporter- Le jatey hain log?
Roshni- Haan, 10 saal ho gaye. Quintal-quintal le jaate hain log.
Reporter- Aap kabse bech rahi ho ye namak?
Roshni- Hame 10 saal hue hain.
Reporter- Ye kaunsi jagah hai Rajasthan ki?
Roshni- Ye Jhunjhunu hai.
[From the above chat, it emerges that the Pakistani origin of the pink salt does not appear to discourage many buyers. It also reflects how consumer demand and familiarity with a product can sometimes outweigh nationalist sentiments.]
According to Roshni, people prefer Pakistan’s Himalyan pink salt because they believe it is good for health. She claims that Pakistani pink salt is being sold not only in towns but also in villages. She says customers do not prefer Indian salt brands such as Tata salt and instead choose the Pakistani variety, which she describes as healthier and free from disease-related risks.
Reporter- Gaon-gaon bechti ho namak?
Roshni- Ladka bechne gaya hai gaon.
Reporter- Hindustan ka kyun nahi bechti?
Roshni- Wo letey nahi. ‘Tata namak’ hamare paas nahi bikta, ye khaan mein se nikalta hai?
Reporter- Matlab Hindustan ka namak aapse koi nahi kharidta?
Roshni- Nahi leta. Ye zyada accha hai, koi bimari nahi hoti issey.
Reporter- Kaun keh raha hai nahi hoti?
Roshni- Nahi hoti.
Reporter- Tumhe kaise pata?
Roshni- Hum khud khaatey hain.
[The dialogue indicates that consumer preference for Pakistani pink salt may be driven by perceptions about its quality and health benefits. It also shows how belief and familiarity can strongly influence buying habits in local markets.]
Now Roshni told us the rate of Pakistan’s pink salt. She said one kg costs Rs 50, and if we take it in powdered form, the price is Rs 100 per kg. She also told us that in a day she sells 50 kg of Pakistani namak without any interference from the police.
Reporter- Kya rate hai ye?
Roshni- Kaun sa?
Reporter- Pakistani namak.
Roshni- Ye 50 rupaiye ka hai, wo 100.
Reporter- Ye 50 rupaiye hai?
Roshni- Haan, iska powder 100 rupaiye per kg.
Reporter- Ek packet mein kitna hai?
Roshni- 1 kilo.
Reporter- Kitna bik jata hai ek din mein?
Roshni- Bik jata hai bori.
Reporter- Koi tung to nahi karta policewala?
Roshni- Naa…
[The chat suggests that Pakistani pink salt is being sold openly and in significant quantities in local markets. It also indicates that the trade continues with little hindrance, reflecting both steady demand and weak enforcement on the ground.]
In the brief exchange below, Roshni claims that many other sellers in the area are also selling Pakistani pink salt. She adds that Indian salt sees little demand in the market.
Reporter- Aur kaun bechta hai Pakistani namak tumhare alawa?
Roshni- Saare bechtey hain.
Reporter- Saare bech rahe hain, aur Hindustan ka kyun nahi bech rahi
Roshni- Bik ra nahi.
[The chat suggests that Pakistani pink salt clearly has a stronger market demand than Indian alternatives in some areas. And, as expected, consumer preference often shapes what local vendors choose to stock.]
In the excerpt below, the vendor reiterates that customers are shunning Tata salt and instead preferring Lahori or Sendha namak sourced from Pakistan. She describes the Pakistani pink salt as healthier for consumption.
Reporter- Tata salt istemaal hi nahi ho raha?
Roshni- Ye khaan mein se nikal raha hai? Ye hai Sendha, Lahori namak khane ka. Wo to bimari ka karan hai.
Reporter- Tata salt bimari ka karan hai, aur ye Pakistani namak?
Roshni- Accha hai khane mein.
Reporter- Wo Sendha namak hai, wo bhi Pakistan se aata hai?
Roshni- Aata sara Pakistan se hai. Ye masala daal kar banaya jata hai kala…
[The chat reflects how health-related claims are being put forward to promote Pakistani pink salt over Indian alternatives. It also shows how consumer perceptions, whether verified or not, can strongly influence demand in local markets.]
Before leaving Roshni’s shop, we asked whether she could supply one tonne (1,000 kg) of Pakistani pink salt to us in Delhi. Roshni replied in the affirmative. She also discusses sending the consignment to Delhi and says transportation can be managed if the delivery expenses are covered. We told her that we would bear the transportation charges.
Reporter- Tumhara naam kya hai?
Roshni- Roshni.
Reporter- Ek-aad tonne chahiye ho to mil jayega?
Roshni- Mil jayega.
Reporter- Pakistani?
Reporter (continues)- Delhi kaise bhejogi?
Roshni- Delhi bhejna hai, itna to kiraya-bhaada ho jayega.
Reporter- Wo hum sab de denge aapko.
[The chat suggests that Pakistani pink salt is available both in small retail quantities and in bulk supply. It also indicates the existence of organised delivery networks beyond local markets.]
This is the story from Rajasthan, where we found Roshni openly selling Pakistan Himalayan pink salt on the streets of Jhunjhunu. All trade with Pakistan remains banned after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Yet, Pakistan’s “Sendha” or “Lahori” namak continues to be sold openly in Indian markets.
We then reached Noida in Uttar Pradesh, where we met Shiv Kumar Chaudhary in Sector 45, selling Pakistani pink salt from a cycle rickshaw on the roadside. Shiv told us that the pink salt he was selling came from Pakistan and claimed that it was very good for health, especially in reducing swelling in the body. He says the product reaches Rajasthan from Lahore before being sold further in local markets. He said he sourced the Pakistani salt from Rajasthan and sold it at Rs 80 per kg.
Reporter- Ye to wahan ka hoga shayad, Pakistan ka?
Shiv- Haan.
Reporter- Ye bhi — dono?
Shiv- Ye Lahori hai, bahut fayde ka kaam karta hai, haath pair mein soojan ho.
Reporter- Pink namak bhi kehtey hain isey. Ye kya Pakistan se aata hai?
Shiv- Haan, Lahore se aata hai Rajasthan. Wahan se yahan aata hai.
Reporter- Ye kya bhao hai, Lahori?
Shiv- Rs 80 per kg.
Reporter- Kaala kahan se aata hai?
Shiv- Kaala Rajasthan se aata hai…
Reporter- Ye pink salt hai Pakistan ka?
Shiv- Haan.
[The chat suggests that Pakistani pink salt, also called Himalayan pink salt, is being openly identified and marketed through claimed health benefits. It also indicates how inter-state supply networks may be helping the product reach local roadside markets despite trade restrictions.]
Shiv told us that he usually sets up his shop in Noida’s Sector 18 market, considered one of the city’s posh areas. However, on the day of our visit, he had brought his cycle rickshaw loaded with Pakistani salt to Sector 45 in Noida. He says he can arrange 50-60 kg of Lahori namak on demand. He also insists that the salt is genuinely from Pakistan and offers his phone number to reassure the buyer if there is any doubt about its origin.
Reporter- Pehli baar dekh raha hoon aapko. Dukan kahan lagatey ho?
Shiv- 18 Sector mein.
Reporter- Ye batao, Lahori namak hame chaiye ho 50-60 kilo?
Shiv- Ho jayega.
Reporter- Abhi kitna hai tumhare paas, aur kya guarantee hai Pakistani hai…?
Shiv- Lahori hai. Aap kisi se bhi pata kar lijiye. Agar aapko doubt ho raha ho, aap hamara number le lijiye.
Reporter- Haan, naam aur number de do.
Shiv- Hamara ek din ka kaam nahi hai…
[The chat suggests that sellers are openly offering sizeable quantities of Pakistani pink salt with claims about its authenticity. It also reflects the confidence with which such trade appears to be operating in local markets.]
We told Shiv Kumar that we were unsure whether the pink salt he was selling was really from Pakistan, since Pakistani products were banned in India after the Pahalgam attack. We asked how he was still getting Pakistani salt. In response, Shiv said that he sourced the salt from Rajasthan. He added that the product was also available in Delhi’s Badarpur area, though he personally purchased it from Rajasthan.
Reporter- Mein Pakistan ka isliye doubt kar raha hoon kyunki Pakistan ki cheezein ban hain India mein, wo Pahalgam ke baad ban ho gaya tha.
Shiv- Pakistan se Rajasthan aata hai, wahan se Delhi aata hai.
Reporter- Delhi se tumhe kaun deta hai…?
Shiv- Badarpur ki taraf bhi milta hai, lekin hum direct Rajasthan se lete hain.
Reporter- Smuggling karwa rahe honge, kyunki waise to ban hai ye.
Shiv- Hmmm.
[The chat points to an inter-state supply chain through which Pakistani pink salt is reaching local markets despite restrictions. It also reflects how parallel trade routes may continue functioning when consumer demand remains steady.]
In the segment below, the vendor is questioned about the authenticity of the pink salt being sold as Pakistani namak or Lahori namak. He offers to share his contact number as assurance and even shows the product openly available for sale. He further claims that bulk quantities of 50–100 kg can be arranged on demand.
Reporter- To guarantee kaise dogey Pakistan ka hai ye..?
Shiv- Aap number le lo.
Reporter- Tumhare number se kaise guarantee hogi?
Shiv- Ye lo Lahori.
Reporter- Ispar to likha hua hai, khule aam bech rahe ho?
Reporter (continues)- Mujhe batao, 50-60 kilo mil jayega?
Shiv- Abhi le jao, 100 kilo se kuch kam hoga abhi.
Reporter- Roz lagatey ho aap?
Reporter (continues)- Kafi saalon se bech rahe honge aap?
Shiv- Humko to zyada time nahi hua hai. Hum jissey maal kharidtey hain, wo bahut dino se bech raha hai.
Reporter- Theek hai, main phone karke bataunga.
[The chat highlights how questions over authenticity are met with informal assurances like phone numbers and bulk availability. Shiv’s claim that bulk quantities of 50–100 kg can be arranged on demand indicates that his supply comes from long-standing traders in the chain.]
In the next interaction, Shiv is again reminded to ensure that the pink salt being supplied is genuinely from Pakistan. He offers reassurance by sharing his contact number and says the goods can be returned if found otherwise. He also claims that nearly 100 kg stock is currently available, with portions already sold to other buyers. The discussion further moves into large-scale supply and delivery arrangements.
Reporter- Bas ye yaad rakhna, pure hona chahiye, Pakistan ka hi ho?
Shiv- Aapko agar doubt ho raha hai, number le liye hain, aap wapas kar dena.
Reporter- Zyada chahiye hame, 100 kilo?
Shiv- Sir, ye 100 kilo se thoda kam hai abhi. Ek aadmi 24 kilo le gaya hai…
Reporter- Lahori?
Shiv- Haan, aur ek le gaya hai 12 kilo.
Reporter- Abhi le gaya hai..?
Shiv- Ghante 2 ghante pehle.
Reporter- Tum 100 kg se upper bhi de sakte ho, 200-250 kilo?
Shiv- Haan.
Reporter- Lekin pahuchana aapka kaam hoga phir?
Shiv- Pahucha denge.
Reporter- Hum paise de denge, pahuchana aapka kaam hoga?
Shiv- Kiraya de dena?
Reporter- Rickshaw ka kiraya dena hoga.
Shiv- Theek hai.
[The chat indicates how bulk trade in Pakistani pink salt is being normalised through routine assurances and delivery promises. It also reflects how supply networks appear flexible enough to handle large orders along with informal logistics arrangements.]
In this exchange, Shiv explains how the pink salt supply is managed through regular orders placed with a company. He says the stock is not always available daily but arrives within a few days after ordering. He also mentions that payment is made in advance before the goods are delivered. The discussion focuses on how the supply chain functions in practice.
Reporter- Aap roz mangwatey ho?
Shiv- Company se mangwatey hain.
Reporter- Roz aata hai?
Shiv- Hum company ko order detey hain, 2-4 din mein aa jata hai.
Reporter- Abhi hai tumhare paas ya mangwana hai?
Shiv- Paisa pehle dena padta hai uske paas, phir aata hai.
Reporter- Account mein daal diya unke, phir aata hoga.
Shiv- Haan, phir aata hai…
[The chat shows that the trade in Pakistani pink salt is being carried out through an organised order-and-delivery system. It also reflects how advance payment and scheduled supply cycles help keep the product consistently available in local markets.]
As seen above, Shiv Kumar Chaudhary was found openly selling Pakistani pink salt, despite a ban on Pakistani goods in India after the Pahalgam attack.
After interacting with Shiv, Tehelka met another street vendor, Arvind (goes by first name), in Sector 78, Noida. Arvind was also seen selling Pakistani pink salt, also called Lahori namak, openly from his vehicle on a roadside in Noida, despite a ban on Pakistani goods in India after the Pahalgam attack. When asked about his sales routine, Arvind said he operates from 10 in the morning till 7 in the evening and sells Pakistani salt daily. He also agreed to sell 100 kg of Pakistani pink salt to us.
Reporter- Theek hai, main kab aa jaun?
Arvind- Time bata do?
Reporter- Aap kab miltey ho yahan?
Arvind- Main roz milta hoon, 10 se 7 baje tak shaam ko.
Reporter- Main 100-150 kilo le jaunga, rakhwa lena apne paas.
Arvind- 100 kilo?
Reporter- 100 kilo Lahori.
Arvind- 50 kilo ka aata hai ek katta.
Reporter- 2 katte aayenge na?
Arvind- Haan.
Reporter- Main phone kar dunga isi number par, mera naam Rajeev hai…
Arvind- Phone kar dena.
Reporter- Aane se ek din pehle phone kar dunga.
[The chat shows how large-scale informal trade is being planned quite casually on roadside interactions. The deal is informally agreed upon with a phone call to be made a day in advance. It also indicates that such transactions are organised through simple verbal coordination rather than formal systems.]
In the next exchange, Arvind confirms that he is selling Lahori namak and quotes its price at Rs 60 per kg. He insists that the salt is genuine and not artificially coloured, dismissing doubts about adulteration.. When asked about supply and availability, he says he can arrange stock as per demand and that he operates daily from Sector 78 in Noida. He also mentions that the salt is sourced from Delhi.
Reporter- Ye Lahori namak hai?
Arvind- Haan.
Reporter- Kya rate hai?
Arvind- Rs 60 kilo.
Reporter- Iski kya guarantee hai ki asli hai?
Arvind- Ismein kya nakli hoga?
Reporter- Haan, wo nakli colour laga detey hain?
Arvind- Aisey nahi hota hai.
Reporter- Maine suna hai pink colour kar detey hain, pink salt bol dete hain?
Arvind- Arey, aisey nahi hota, pakka hai ye…
Reporter- Kitna de sakte ho hame, 100-200-300 kilo mil jayega?
Arvind- Mere paas to yahi hai.
Reporter- Ye mangwatey kahan se ho Lahori namak?
Arvind- Delhi se aata hai.
Reporter- Yahan daily lagatey ho aap?
Arvind- Haan.
Reporter- Ye kaunsa sector hai?
Arvind- Sector 78, Noida.
[The chat reflects how sellers are trying to establish authenticity claims around Pakistani pink salt amid doubts about adulteration. It also shows how pricing, sourcing and availability are being presented informally in local street-level trade.]
Tehelka came across three people selling Pakistani pink salt on the streets of Jhunjhunu and Noida. Reports suggest that Pakistani pink salt, sold as “Sendha namak” or “Lahori namak”, continues to be available in other parts of India despite the blanket ban on Pakistani imports imposed after the Pahalgam terror attack. Known for its distinct colour and taste, the salt is reportedly being sold across India. Unverified claims about its health benefits continue to attract buyers to street vendors in Rajasthan and Noida.
Beyond such claims, Sendha namak also holds significance in Hindu traditions for reasons rooted in Vedic scriptures. Rock salt, often referred to as Pakistani salt or Lahori namak, is commonly used during Navratri fasting rituals and has largely been imported from Pakistan, since it is not found in India. Compared to regular white salt, sendha or rock salt has also gained recognition in Ayurveda for its perceived health benefits. Growing awareness through social media and doctor recommendations has encouraged more people to incorporate Sendha namak into their diet.
The street-sold version is priced at nearly half the rate of packaged salt, fuelling a surge in demand. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, mandates approval for all food products before they can be sold. Selling, storing, or manufacturing food products without such approval is illegal, and violators may face criminal action.
Vendors Tehelka spoke to claim that the salt they are selling in large quantities is sourced from Pakistan, despite the ban imposed after the Pahalgam terror attack. The vendors also claimed that the supply continues uninterrupted through informal distribution channels. However, curiously, enforcement agencies appear oblivious to the open sale of banned Pakistani pink salt across local markets. Of concern is the apparent absence of scrutiny by both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and law enforcement over the channels through which the banned Pakistani pink salt is allegedly entering Indian cities via the Punjab and Rajasthan borders. The number of vendors selling Pakistani pink salt or Sendha namak from trucks and tempos on Indian streets also appears to have grown significantly.
