PSX investor base grows 47.3% in 10 months,

ISLAMABAD, Nov 4 (APP):Pakistan Stock Exchange’s investor base expanded by 218,894 during January–October 2026, growing 47.3 percent from 463,071 at the beginning of the year to 681,965 at the end of October.

During October, 26,843 new accounts were opened, comprising 26,801 individual accounts and 42 corporate accounts. The net increase in the investor base during the month was 25,747, said a news release.

Pakistan Mercantile Exchange also recorded 1,077 new accounts in October, bringing its total number of investors to 61,915.

Young people accounted for most new individual accounts at PSX. Investors aged 18–30 opened 14,634 accounts, representing 54.6 percent of the monthly individual total.

Those aged 31–45 opened 9,290 accounts, accounting for 34.7 percent. Together, the two age groups opened 23,924 accounts, or 89.3 percent of new individual accounts.

Men opened 22,878 accounts, representing 85.4 percent of new individual accounts, while women opened 3,923 accounts, accounting for 14.6 percent.

Punjab recorded the largest number of new accounts at 14,891, followed by Sindh with 7,643. Together, the two provinces accounted for 83.9 percent of all accounts opened during October.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded 1,894 new accounts and Islamabad 1,419. Another 370 accounts were opened from Balochistan, 340 from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 150 from Gilgit-Baltistan and 136 from abroad.

SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu said simplifying access to investment and protecting investors’ rights were priorities for the regulator. He said transparency and effective supervision would help strengthen investor confidence.

The SECP is also conducting a nationwide awareness campaign to support its target of expanding Pakistan’s stock-market investor base to 2.5 million.

The expansion in participation follows a 43.5 percent rise in the benchmark KSE-100 Index during FY2025–26. The SECP approved 14 initial public offerings during the same fiscal year.