Tuesday, December 30 2025

PSX beats property, dollar
Pakistan's equity market delivered one of its strongest performances in recent history during 2025, decisively outperforming most competing asset classes and reinforcing the Pakistan Stock Exchange's (PSX) growing appeal among domestic investors. Market participants attribute the benchmark KSE-100 index's robust performance to a combination of macroeconomic stabilisation and improving investor sentiment. Inflation moderated sharply during 2025, allowing the State Bank to cut its policy rate in phases from elevated levels, thereby improving the relative attractiveness of risk assets. At the same time, foreign exchange reserves strengthened, the current account remained largely contained, and fears of disorderly currency depreciation receded. These developments collectively reduced systemic risk and encouraged investors to reallocate capital to equities.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators psx stock-exchanges

Records tumble, KSE-100 gains over 700 points in early trade
Records continued to tumble at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), with the benchmark KSE-100 Index gaining over 700 points during the opening minutes of trading on Tuesday. At 10:05am, the benchmark index was hovering at 174,616.32, an increase of 719.98 points or 0.41%. Buying interest was observed in key sectors, including automobile assemblers, cement, commercial banks, fertilisers, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs, power generation, and refineries. Index-heavy stocks, MARI, OGDC, PPL, POL, PSO, SNGPL, SSGC, MCB, MEBL and NBP, traded in the green.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators psx stock-exchanges

Jazz CEO warns dollar-priced 5G auction will delay rollout, raise costs
Telecom service providers have criticised the government for linking the auction of 5G spectrum to the US dollar, arguing that this policy imposes a financial strain on the telecom industry and delays network rollout. Pricing spectrum in foreign currency and relying on heavy upfront payments places avoidable financial strain on the sector and slows network rollout. A pragmatic, long-term approach – aligned with national objectives and grounded in domestic economic realities – is essential to deliver affordable internet at scale and unlock Pakistan's digital growth, said Aamir Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer of Jazz. The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet has recently approved the rollout of 5G spectrum, linking its price to the US dollar, which has sparked calls for review by telecom operators. They have also drawn attention to the recent bidding for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), which invited offers in Pakistani rupees.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators tech-comm

Businessmen asked to invest in maritime zone
Highlighting Pakistan's vast untapped maritime potential, Commander Logistics and Director General Naval Research & Development Institute (NRDI) Rear Admiral Muhammad Sohail Arshad has urged the business community to proactively seize opportunities across shipping, shipbuilding, offshore exploration, maritime technology, logistics and coastal infrastructure. Exchanging views at a meeting during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the NRDI DG stated that the maritime sector represents one of the most promising frontiers for economic growth, investment and technological advancement in the country. With an expansive coastline, an enlarged Exclusive Economic Zone, emerging shipbuilding capacity and policy-level support under active consideration, there is a need for public-private collaboration, indigenous innovation and private-sector leadership to unlock the full economic value of Pakistan's maritime domain, he added.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators misc

Islamic debt market deepens as Pakistan posts biggest-ever Sukuk issuance
Pakistan's government raised a record amount of over Rs2 trillion through domestic Sukuk issuances in 2025, marking the highest annual volume since Islamic bonds were introduced in 2008 and highlighting the rapid deepening of the country's Islamic capital market. The milestone was underscored by Adviser to the Finance Minister Khurram Shehzad, who said in a post on X that the Ministry of Finance (MoF) had set a historic record in Sukuk issuance, calling it a landmark breakthrough for Islamic finance in Pakistan. According to the MoF, the record issuance was executed through the Debt Management Office in collaboration with Joint Financial Advisors (JFAs). During 2025, the government conducted 61 Sukuk issuances across one-year, three-year, five-year and ten-year tenors, structured under both fixed rate return (FRR) and variable rate return (VRR) formats.
Related news categories: business economic-indicators misc