Finance minister says record investor participation, listings and IPOs signal growing confidence in Pakistan’s capital markets.
KARACHI: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has reiterated the government’s focus on sustainable economic growth, macroeconomic stability and private-sector-led development, highlighting the capital market’s role in mobilising investment and creating jobs.
Addressing a Gong Ceremony at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Thursday, Aurangzeb said the KSE-100 Index had climbed from around 67,000 points in March 2024 to approximately 170,000 points.
The exchange attracted a record 25,281 new investors in September 2026, taking the total investor base to 656,218, compared with 321,144 in March 2024.
Eleven companies were listed during FY2026, the highest annual number in more than two decades, while five IPOs had already been completed in the first quarter of FY2027.
Aurangzeb said the government’s objective was not simply a rising stock market but converting investor confidence into capital for businesses, infrastructure, housing, innovation and employment.
On the Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar Programme, he said around Rs60 billion had been financed, while banks had approved a further financing pipeline of nearly Rs340 billion awaiting disbursement. He also highlighted REITs as a tool for mobilising investment into the housing and real estate sectors.
The minister said major Pakistani business groups participating in the Pakistan International Airlines transaction represented nearly $1.2 billion in collective investment.
He added that investor interest was expanding into electricity distribution privatisation, minerals and mining, agriculture, IT, oil and gas and refinery upgrades.
Aurangzeb said the economy had moved from contraction and stabilisation towards growth of around 3.7 per cent, with growth expected to approach 4 per cent during the current year.
He also noted that tax filers had crossed 5.7 million, up from 3.9 million last year and around 1.8–1.9 million in 2022.
Calling for broader access to finance, the minister identified SMEs, agriculture and housing as key areas, while pointing to opportunities in digitalisation, blockchain and Web 3.0.
The Naya Nazimabad Apartments REIT attracted eight times subscription during book-building and 4.3 times in the general public offering, reflecting strong demand for structured investment opportunities.