The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) reached a historic milestone on Thursday as the KSE-100 index surged past the 138,000-point mark during intraday trading for the first time. The index gained 1,662.03 points, marking a 1.22 percent increase and closing at 138,041.99 points. This sharp rise reflects growing investor confidence, backed by improving economic indicators and positive market sentiment.
Despite briefly dipping to a low of 136,674.98 points, the overall session remained strong, with trading volume crossing 142 million shares. Investors responded positively to recent government efforts aimed at economic reforms and international re-engagement. Experts believe that continued market momentum may set the stage for further gains in the coming weeks, especially if macroeconomic stability holds.
The rally followed Federal Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb’s recent meeting with Moody’s, where he highlighted Pakistan’s progress in stabilizing the economy. He also noted the successful completion of the final IMF review under the Stand-By Arrangement and the disbursement of the second tranche. These developments have played a key role in restoring global confidence in Pakistan’s financial management.
Aurangzeb also emphasized structural reforms introduced in the national budget, such as prudent fiscal policies, trade liberalization, and focused efforts to reduce government expenses. These steps, according to him, are designed to support long-term stability and promote export-led growth. He further mentioned that talks with the United States on preferential tariff access are moving in a promising direction.
In his discussion with the Moody’s team, the finance minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to privatizing loss-making state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and restructuring them for better efficiency. He assured that the government remains focused on right-sizing departments to reduce wasteful spending and boost performance. These actions are central to the country’s ongoing reform agenda.
Looking ahead, Aurangzeb expressed hope that credit rating agencies will recognize Pakistan’s economic progress and reform momentum. This, he said, would help Pakistan access global markets more easily and strengthen its external financial stability. Investors, meanwhile, are watching developments closely, expecting more clarity and growth in the coming months.