Pakistan’s stock market has witnessed a sharp rise in investor participation, with more than 190,000 new investors joining over the past year, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). The increase has expanded the country’s investor base by 48%, taking the total number of investors to more than 583,000.
The SECP said young Pakistanis were the primary drivers of this growth, reflecting increasing interest in the country’s capital markets. Investors aged 18 to 30 accounted for 45% of all new registrations, while those between 31 and 45 years represented another 41%, highlighting the growing appeal of stock market investing among younger generations.
Regionally, Karachi recorded the highest number of new investor accounts, contributing 25% of all registrations. Lahore followed with 16%, while Islamabad and Rawalpindi together accounted for 13% of the new investors.
According to the regulator, the growth was supported by several reforms aimed at making investing easier and more accessible. The investment limit under the Facilitation Account was increased from Rs. 1 million to Rs. 3 million, allowing individuals to invest larger amounts through a simplified process. The SECP also introduced streamlined account opening through banks and digital platforms, along with IBAN verification and minor trading accounts to improve accessibility.
SECP Chairman Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu said encouraging greater participation in the capital market, particularly among young people, remains a key priority. He announced that the regulator is working on a digital onboarding mobile application to further simplify the investment process.
Sidhu added that a stronger capital market can support Pakistan’s economic growth by channeling public savings into productive investments, reaffirming the SECP’s commitment to expanding digital access and making investing faster, simpler, and more inclusive.
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