The total lignite reserves estimated by Geological Survey of Pakistan in Thar are around 175 billion tons which are spread over an area of 9,000 SqKm.
The US Geological Survey also undertook the estimation of Thar coal reserves and issued a report in 1994 confirming the presence of huge lignite coal reserves. The Asian Development Bank carried out a study on Thar Coal Mining Project in 2007 which says: “Figures provided by the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) state that the resource has a potential of 175 billion tons. From examination of the detailed material provided by the GSP, there is no reason to doubt that a resource exists of the scale claimed at Thar Coal Mining Project”.