KARACHI: The number of investor accounts in Pakistan’s stock market rose a record 48% in the last fiscal year, the country’s securities regulator said on Thursday, as authorities push to deepen capital markets as part of a broader strategy to spur investment and economic growth.
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) said investor accounts increased to 583,052 at the end of FY2025-26 from 392,775 a year earlier, with nearly 190,300 new accounts opened during the year, marking the highest annual increase on record.
The growth comes as the government seeks to transform Pakistan’s capital market into a source of long-term investment that finances businesses, attracts domestic and foreign capital, strengthens corporate governance and supports sustainable economic growth.
The effort forms part of a wider economic reform agenda aimed at broadening financing options for the private sector and mobilizing household savings.
“Pakistan’s capital market can play an important role in economic growth by channeling savings into productive investments,” SECP Chairman Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu said in a statement saying the number of investor accounts had increased 48%.
“Our focus is to simplify access, strengthen investor confidence and encourage more citizens, especially youth, to participate in wealth creation and the country’s economic development,” he added.
The SECP said it worked with the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), the National Clearing Company of Pakistan (NCCPL) and the Central Depository Company (CDC) to introduce reforms aimed at making investing more accessible and promoting financial inclusion.
The measures included raising the investment limit for Sahulat Accounts to Rs3 million ($10,600) from Rs1 million ($3,600), removing duplicate documentation requirements for investors opening accounts through banks and digital financial institutions, introducing IBAN-based verification and launching trading accounts for minors under the supervision of guardians.
Young investors accounted for much of the increase, with people aged 18 to 30 opening 45% of new investor accounts during January-June 2026, while those aged 31 to 45 represented another 41%, according to the regulator.
Karachi accounted for 25% of new investor accounts opened during the fiscal year, followed by Lahore with 16%, Islamabad and Rawalpindi with 13%, Faisalabad with 4% and Multan with 3%, the SECP said.
