Key Takeaways
- The number of investor accounts in Pakistan’s stock market increased by 48% in the last fiscal year.
- Young investors, aged 18 to 30, opened 45% of new accounts, reflecting growing financial literacy.
- The KSE-100 Index gained 44% in rupee terms and 46% in US dollar terms during FY2025-26.
Investment trends in Pakistan are witnessing a significant shift, with a notable surge in the number of investor accounts, particularly among young people. According to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), the number of investor accounts increased by 48% during the last fiscal year, reaching 583,052 by the end of FY2025-26 from 392,775 a year earlier.
Ibrahim Amin, a banking and financial sector expert, attributes this growth to increased awareness and easier access to the equity market. He notes that young investors, aged 18 to 30, opened 45% of the new accounts, while those aged 31 to 45 accounted for another 41%. This trend indicates a growing financial literacy among the younger demographic.
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) saw a stellar performance in FY2025-26, with the KSE-100 Index gaining 44% in rupee terms and 46% in US dollar terms. Amin highlights that people’s saving habits are gradually shifting from keeping cash at home to investing through formal financial institutions, which could contribute to improving the country’s savings-to-GDP ratio.
Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, a global Universal Exchange, sees Pakistan as a significant market for young investors. She notes that the growing participation of young investors in the local equity market could encourage greater confidence in investing in high-return assets, including digital or tokenised versions of traditional stocks such as Apple, Tesla, Nvidia, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft.
Chen emphasizes that Pakistani investors have the potential to increase their participation in global financial markets, particularly in international equities, given the large and increasingly digital-savvy youth population and a freelance workforce of nearly three million.
The PSX continues to attract investment from both domestic and international institutional and individual investors. Amin believes that the introduction of mobile applications and digital platforms by brokerage houses, along with improved regulatory facilitation, has played a crucial role in encouraging more young people to invest in the local equity market.
The surge in investment is not limited to the local market; young investors are also showing interest in global stocks. According to Chen, these investors are increasingly likely to prefer platforms that offer access to multiple asset classes, including cryptocurrencies, tokenised stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), commodities, and foreign exchange through a single account.
The growing interest in global financial markets is expected to further boost the local stock market, creating new opportunities for both domestic and international investors. As financial literacy continues to rise, the potential for further growth in the investment sector remains high.
People’s saving habits are gradually changing from keeping cash at home or relying solely on traditional savings to investing through formal financial institutions and markets. This reflects growing financial literacy and could also contribute to improving the country’s savings-to-GDP ratio.
Ibrahim Amin, Banking and financial sector expert, Chairman of the Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA)
Pakistan is emerging as a significant market for young investors seeking access to a wider range of investment opportunities, including global stocks and cryptocurrencies.
Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, the world’s largest Universal Exchange
