The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) soared past the 161,000-point mark on Monday, extending its bullish run as renewed optimism and strong investor sentiment fueled aggressive buying across sectors.
The rally comes after the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approved a comprehensive inter-corporate circular debt settlement plan and sanctioned Rs660 billion in sovereign guarantees to address the mounting circular debt. The committee also approved diversion of gas supplies to fertiliser plants, boosting sentiment in the energy and fertiliser sectors.
The KSE-100 index gained 1,945 points (1.22%), closing at 161,538.41, after hitting an intraday high of 2,288 points, according to Topline Securities Ltd. Heavyweights such as Engro Holdings, Fauji Fertiliser, OGDCL, and Pakistan Petroleum led the surge, contributing over 1,200 points to the index.
Investor participation also improved, with trading volumes up 1.88% to 780 million shares, and traded value jumping 18.34% to Rs36.3 billion. First National Equities Ltd dominated the volume chart with 73.7 million shares.
Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd, noted that after three sessions below 160,000 points,
the market “has regained its consolidation zone of 160,000–170,000, supported by policy clarity and political stability.”
Analysts added that the PSX now sees 160,000 as a strong support level, with 165,000 in focus for a potential breakout later this week, as Pakistan’s record Rs2.1 trillion budget surplus further strengthens market confidence.