Pakistan’s equity market ended the trading week on a historic note as the Pakistan Stock Exchange crossed the 189,000-point threshold. This historic milestone was reached for the first time on Friday.
The benchmark KSE-100 Index closed at 189,167, gaining 1,479 points, or 0.79%, to mark a fresh all-time high.
Market activity remained subdued during the morning session, with the index moving within a narrow band. Momentum picked up sharply in the afternoon as investor interest surged.
Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Limited, said buying accelerated later in the day. This happened after market speculation emerged about a potential stock split in Fauji Fertilizer Company. The speculation helped push the index beyond the 189,000 level before the close.
On the macroeconomic front, the Sensitive Price Index for the week ending January 22, 2026, increased 4.18% year-on-year. However, it declined 0.48% week-on-week, signalling easing short-term inflation pressure.
In terms of index contribution, FFC alone added 1,514 points, driven by split-related expectations. Engro Fertilisers, Pakistan Oilfields, Hub Power Company, and Engro Holdings collectively added another 690 points.
Selling pressure emerged in select heavyweight stocks. Pioneer Cement, Oil and Gas Development Company, United Bank Limited, National Bank of Pakistan, and Pakistan Petroleum Limited together trimmed 478 points from the index.
Trading volumes stayed strong throughout the session. Total market activity reached 875.49 million shares, with turnover valued at PKR 58.5 billion. K-Electric led the volume chart, with 141.4 million shares traded.
For the week, the PSX delivered solid gains. The KSE-100 added 4,068 points, or 2.2%, after opening at 186,151. It touched an intra-week high of 189,567, hit a low of 186,127, and settled at 189,167.
Investor focus now shifts to the upcoming monetary policy decision by the State Bank of Pakistan, scheduled for Monday, January 26, 2026. Market participants expect a 50- to 100-basis-point rate cut. This move is likely to influence near-term market direction.
