Karachi, March 26, 2026: The benchmark KSE-100 index suffered a steep decline on Thursday, losing 5,405 points as fading hopes of peace in the Middle East spooked investors and triggered widespread selling across key sectors.
Market analysts noted that pressure was most prominent in automobile assemblers, cement, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, oil marketing companies (OMCs), and power generation stocks. Major index-heavy companies including MCB, MEBL, NBP, MARI, OGDC, PPL, POL, PSO, and HUBCO all closed in the red, contributing to the sharp slide.
The drop comes after Iran rejected a US-led proposal to end the ongoing conflict, setting five stringent conditions for a ceasefire, including international recognition and sovereignty guarantees over the Strait of Hormuz. Officials emphasized that any halt to hostilities would be on Tehran’s terms, intensifying regional uncertainty and impacting global markets.
📊 KSE-100 Index Snapshot – March 26, 2026
| Market Status | Closed |
| Current Index | 152,907.96 |
| Change | -5405.48 |
| Percent Change | -3.41% |
| High | 157,591.23 |
| Low | 152,668.07 |
| Volume | 313,130,385 |
| Previous Close | 158,313.44 |
| Value | 23,246,171,893 |
Investors are expected to remain cautious as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to influence sentiment in Pakistan’s equity markets. Market watchers recommend monitoring developments closely, particularly in major sectors driving the KSE-100, to gauge potential recovery or further decline.
This sudden correction marks one of the steepest single-day drops for the index in recent months, underlining the sensitivity of Pakistan’s financial markets to international political developments.