PSX Investor Base Surges 47.3% to 681,965 in 2026

Over 218,000 net new investors joined the market since January, with younger investors driving the majority of account openings in October.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) investor base increased by 47.3% during the first 10 months of 2026, with 218,894 net new investors joining the market, bringing the total to 681,965 by the end of October, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).

The investor base stood at 463,071 at the beginning of the year, reflecting a significant expansion in participation in Pakistan’s capital markets.

During October alone, 26,843 new accounts were opened, comprising 26,801 individual and 42 corporate accounts. The net addition to the investor base for the month reached 25,747, the highest monthly increase on record.

Young investors dominated new registrations, with individuals aged 18‑30 opening 14,634 accounts—54.6% of all new individual accounts. Investors aged 31‑45 opened another 9,290 accounts, accounting for 34.7%. Together, these two age groups represented 89.3% of new individual accounts during the month.

Gender‑wise, male investors opened 22,878 accounts (85.4% of individual registrations), while female investors opened 3,923 accounts (14.6%).

Punjab led provincial registrations with 14,891 new accounts, followed by Sindh with 7,643. Together, these two provinces accounted for 83.9% of total account openings in October.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded 1,894 new accounts, Islamabad 1,419, Balochistan 370, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 340, and Gilgit‑Baltistan 150. An additional 136 accounts were opened by overseas investors.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Mercantile Exchange (PMEX) recorded 1,077 new accounts during October, raising its total investor base to 61,915.

SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu said simplifying investment procedures and protecting investors’ rights remain key regulator priorities. He emphasized that transparency and effective regulatory oversight are essential to strengthening investor confidence.

The commission is also conducting a nationwide investor awareness campaign as part of its effort to expand Pakistan’s stock‑market investor base to 2.5 million.

The rise in investor participation follows a 43.5% climb in the benchmark KSE‑100 Index during FY2025‑26, while the SECP approved 14 initial public offerings in the same fiscal year.

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