Karachi, January 29, 2026 — The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) faced intense selling pressure on Thursday as the benchmark KSE-100 index plunged by more than 5,000 points during intraday trading, sparking concerns among investors and market participants.
At around 1:50 PM Pakistan Standard Time (PST), the KSE-100 index was hovering near 183,252 points, reflecting a sharp decline of approximately 5,128 points, or 2.72 percent, compared to the previous session’s close of 188,380 points. During the session, the index hit an intraday high of nearly 188,923 points before tumbling to a low close to 183,244 points, underscoring the heightened volatility in the market. Trading volumes remained strong at over 232 million shares, with the total value of shares traded exceeding Rs 28.2 billion, indicating aggressive selling across the board.
Market analysts linked the steep fall to a deteriorating geopolitical environment coupled with a rise in international oil prices, both of which have amplified uncertainty and dampened investor confidence. Concerns over higher energy costs and their potential impact on inflation and the country’s external account further weighed on sentiment.
The sell-off was broad-based, with heavy losses recorded in key sectors including automobile assemblers, cement, commercial banks, fertiliser, oil and gas exploration, power generation, and refinery companies. Index-heavy stocks remained under pressure throughout the session, as shares of Attock Refinery Limited (ARL), Hub Power Company (HUBCO), Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC), Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL), Habib Bank Limited (HBL), Meezan Bank, MCB Bank, and United Bank Limited (UBL) traded firmly in the red.
Market participants cautioned that volatility may persist in the near term, as investors continue to monitor global developments and commodity price movements for clearer direction at the PSX.