Key Points
- PSX investor base reaches 502,024 as of February 26
- Over 227,000 new investors joined since June 2022
- January 2026 saw a record monthly addition of 20,600 investors
- Total public market investors across asset classes are near 1.3 million
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s main stock market has crossed the half-million investor mark for the first time in its history, reflecting a sharp rise in retail participation and growing interest in capital markets amid ongoing economic reforms.
The milestone was announced by Khurram Schehzad, Adviser to the Finance Minister, in a post on the social media platform X, where he stated that the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) reached 502,024 total investors as of February 26.
According to the data shared, more than 227,000 new investors have entered the market since June 2022, indicating an 83 per cent expansion in just over three and a half years.
The figures show that 275,000 investors had joined it from the exchange’s inception until June 2022, compared with 227,000 added in the period since then.
January 2026 recorded the highest single-month increase on record, with 20,600 new investors opening accounts.
February has already added more than 18,000 investors, with days remaining in the month.
Schehzad noted in his post that most of the new entrants are young retail investors, describing the trend as a sign of improving confidence in macroeconomic stability and momentum in reforms.
“Capital markets deepen when trust builds, policy clarity improves, and growth prospects gain credibility, and participation rises accordingly,” he wrote.
PSX Crosses Half a Million Investor Mark – First Time in History
Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) has just surpassed 500,000 total investors for the first time in history, reaching 502,024 as of Feb-26 to date.
– Since June 2022, over 227,000 new investors have entered the market… pic.twitter.com/gc5chMF6Ry
— Khurram Schehzad (@kschehzad) February 26, 2026
The expansion of the investor base comes as Pakistan works to stabilise its economy following a balance-of-payments crisis in recent years.
Policymakers have implemented fiscal consolidation measures, tightened monetary policy, and pursued structural reforms under international financial support programmes.
Market officials say the increase in participation suggests that household savings are gradually shifting from traditional assets such as cash and real estate toward listed equities and regulated investment vehicles.
Schehzad added that more than 16 initial public offerings (IPOs) are expected this year, which could further broaden the market depth and attract new investors.
IPOs allow companies to raise capital by offering shares to the public for the first time, providing investors with additional avenues to participate in corporate growth.
Beyond direct equity investors, total participation across Pakistan’s public markets, including equities, commodities, mutual funds and other regulated instruments, is now estimated at around 1.3 million investors, according to the adviser’s post.
Analysts say that although the overall number remains modest compared with larger emerging markets, the pace of growth marks a significant structural shift in investor behaviour.
A broader investor base can enhance liquidity, reduce market volatility over time, and make capital markets a more reliable source of financing for businesses.
The crossing of the half-million mark reflects a gradual deepening of Pakistan’s financial ecosystem, suggesting that reform efforts may be beginning to influence household investment choices.
