The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) began the trading week on a strong note Monday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index surging past the 135,000 mark amid improved investor sentiment and a brighter economic outlook.
Opening at 134,299.76 points, the index gained 1,841.11 points (1.37%) to reach 136,119.27 by 12:15 pm, with over 134 million shares traded, amounting to Rs 11.12 billion in value.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the milestone, terming it a reflection of rising business community confidence in the government’s economic policies. “The economy is now transitioning from stability to growth,” he said in a statement issued by the PM Office, reiterating that creating a business-friendly environment remains a top priority.
The record rally follows last week’s bullish trend, driven by strong macroeconomic indicators, rising remittances, and steady institutional buying. Workers’ remittances hit a historic $3.4 billion in June—up 8% year-on-year—pushing FY25 inflows to $38.3 billion, a 27% annual rise.
Meanwhile, the State Bank’s reserves climbed to a 39-month high of $14.5 billion, boosted by a $1.8 billion increase in the week ending July 4.
The auto sector also contributed to market momentum. Car sales rose 64% year-on-year in June to 21,773 units, driven by pre-buying ahead of a proposed GST hike on smaller vehicles. Full-year sales for FY25 jumped 43% to 148,000 units.
Analysts believe the rally signals restored investor confidence, underpinned by structural reforms and fiscal stability measures now beginning to take hold.
