Pakistan stock market sees record 48% rise in investors: SECP

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) said on Thursday that Pakistan’s capital market had witnessed a sharp rise in participation, with the number of stock market investors increasing by a record 48% over the past year. “More than 190,000 new investors entered the market during the year, taking the total number of stock market investors to over 583,000,” the SECP said in a press release. Young investors drove much of the growth, with 45% of new investors falling in the 18–30 age group, while another 41% were between 31 and 45 years old, the statement added. SECP said that Karachi led, with 25% of all new investor accounts, followed by Lahore with 16%. Islamabad and Rawalpindi together contributed 13% of new investors. READ MORE: SECP urges businesses to corporatise, promote investment culture The SECP attributed the increase to reforms, including raising the Sahulat Account investment limit from Rs1 million to Rs3 million, simplifying account opening through banks and digital platforms, and introducing measures such as IBAN verification and minor trading accounts. “Engaging young people in the capital market remains the regulator’s top priority,” SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu said. He added that a digital onboarding mobile app is being introduced to further simplify investing. “The capital market can play a key role in driving economic growth by channelling household savings into productive investments.” He added that the SECP’s objective was to make investing simple, fast and accessible to every citizen. Pakistan’s capital market, primarily represented by the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), has experienced significant growth and undergone various developments in recent years, driven by a mix of economic reforms, investor confidence, and strategic initiatives