Pakistan’s stock market witnessed a sharp and dramatic decline as investors rushed to offload shares. The benchmark KSE-100 Index plunged by 5,149 points, reflecting a 2.87 percent drop. It closed the session at 174,453 points.
Earlier in the trading day, the market fell even further. At one stage, the index dropped by 6,049 points, touching 173,574. This steep fall signaled widespread panic among investors.
Consequently, heavy selling pressure dominated most sectors throughout the session.
Trading Activity Remained High
Despite the downturn, trading activity remained strong. A total of 773.29 million shares exchanged hands during the day. The overall traded value stood at Rs. 46.24 billion.
Market breadth also reflected weakness. Out of 565 companies that traded shares, only 65 recorded gains. Meanwhile, 378 companies posted losses. The share prices of 122 companies remained unchanged.
Therefore, the majority of stocks ended the session in negative territory.
Investor Sentiment Turns Bearish
The steep decline indicates heightened uncertainty in the market. Investors reacted quickly, leading to aggressive selling across multiple sectors.
Moreover, large-cap stocks contributed significantly to the index drop. As selling intensified, confidence weakened further. This created a downward spiral during trading hours.
Although markets often fluctuate, such a sharp fall signals strong bearish sentiment.
Top Volume Leaders
Several stocks recorded high trading volumes despite the market crash. K-Electric (KEL) traded 63,826,098 shares and closed at Rs. 8.13, down by Rs. 0.42. WorldCall Telecom (WTL) saw 62,243,488 shares traded, ending at Rs. 1.53, declining by Rs. 0.10.
Bank of Punjab (BOP) recorded 56,166,941 shares, closing at Rs. 33.25 after falling by Rs. 3.11. Hum Network (HUMNL) was among the few gainers. It traded 47,353,559 shares and rose by Rs. 0.68 to close at Rs. 12.88. Treet Battery (TSBL) gained Rs. 0.38, closing at Rs. 2.29 with 27,570,150 shares traded.
First National Equities (FNEL) declined by Rs. 0.10, ending at Rs. 1.41 with 26,673,405 shares traded. BECO also slipped by Rs. 0.09 to close at Rs. 6.00, with 25,389,124 shares exchanged. These figures highlight continued investor activity despite widespread losses.
Market Outlook Remains Uncertain
Sharp declines often test investor resilience. However, recovery depends on market confidence and stabilizing factors.
In the short term, volatility may continue as traders reassess positions. Additionally, cautious sentiment could persist until stability returns.
For now, the 5,000-point crash marks one of the sharpest recent setbacks for the Pakistan Stock Exchange. Investors will closely monitor upcoming sessions to gauge whether the market finds support or faces further pressure.
