Pakistan, Oct. 6 -- The Thar coal mine will increase annual production by 3.6 million tonnes to 11.2 million tonnes after the completion of Phase III of the Thar Coal Block II project, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said on Monday.

The Sindh government on Monday inaugurated Phase III of the project in Tharparkar, read a statement.

Thar coal is an indigenous lignite coal reserve located in Sindh, Pakistan, which is playing a crucial role in fulfilling the country's power needs and aims to reduce reliance on imported fuels. It boasts an estimated 175 billion tonnes of lignite coal, making it one of the largest coal deposits globally.

The expansion will raise mine production capacity by 3.6 million tonnes a year, from 7.6 million ton...