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Pakistan

Pakistan has the capacity to see long-term economic growth comparable to BRIC nations, particularly its neighbor India, due to its endowment of energy resources -- including natural gas and oil reserves, coal, and large hydropower potential -- a large work-age population (60 million people) and large swaths of arable land. Two of Pakistan’s most important sectors, agriculture and manufacturing, are expected to improve over the next year. Agriculture accounts for 21% of GDP and primarily consists of cotton, wheat and rice. The manufacturing sector contributes 25% of GDP and primarily produces textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, construction materials and fertilizer. Pakistan’s economy also benefits from remittances that have averaged approximately USD 1 billion a month over that past year. Pakistan’s economy is expected to grow at a modest rate of 4% over the next 5 years.

Pakistan - GDP Growth Rate (%)
Pakistan - GDP Growth Rate (%)
Source: IMF
Pakistan - KSE100 Index
Pakistan - KSE100 Index
Source: Bloomberg

Stock Market:

Pakistan had until 11th of January 2016  three stock exchanges, the Lahore Stock Exchange (LSE), the Islamabad Stock Exchange (ISE) and the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE). 

Karachi Stock Exchange (Guarantee) Limited (KSE) was the largest and most liquid in Pakistan and was established on 18th September 1947 then incorporated on 10th March 1949. Only five companies were initially listed with a total paid-up capital of 37 million rupees. The first index introduced in KSE was based on fifty companies and was called KSE 50 index and market trading used to be carried out on an open out-cry system. With growth in number of listed companies and trading activities, a dire need for a true representative index and computerization of trading activities was felt. As a result KSE 100 Index was introduced on 1st November 1991. Computerized trading system called Karachi Automated Trading System (KATS) was introduced in 2002 with a capacity of 1.0 million trades per day and the ability to provide connectivity to an unlimited number of users. 

The Lahore Stock Exchange was Pakistan's second largest stock exchange after the KSE. It came into existence in October 1970, under the Securities and Exchange Ordinance of 1969 by the Government of Pakistan in response to the needs of the provincial metropolis of the province of Punjab. It initially had 83 members and was housed in a rented building in the crowded Bank Square area of Lahore. The LSE was the first stock exchange in Pakistan to use the internet. The Lahore Stock Exchange has also opened branches in the industrial cities of Faisalabad and Sialkot for trading. 

The Islamabad Stock Exchange was the youngest of the three stock exchanges of Pakistan. It was located in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan. The Islamabad Stock Exchange (ISE) was incorporated as a guarantee limited Company on 25th October 1989 in Islamabad Capital territory of Pakistan with the main object of setting up of a trading and settlement infrastructure, information system, skilled resources, accessibility and a fair and orderly market place that ranks with the best in the world. The purpose for establishment of the stock exchange in Islamabad was to cater to the needs of less developed areas of the northern part of Pakistan. It was licensed as a stock exchange on 7th January 1992.

On 11th of January 2016 the former Karachi Stock Exchange became the new Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) with the previous Lahore Stock Exchange and Islamabad Stock Exchange merged into PSX.

The PSX lists 378 companies with a market capitalization of over USD 22.8 billion as of September 2023.

Useful Links:

Pakistan Stock Exchange website: www.psx.com.pk

PAKISTAN

Population: 193.2m

Population of working age: 60m

  • High rates of remittances from foreign workers, mainly in Middle East
  • CPEC transforming the country’s relationship with China
  • Apparel and textiles accounted for nearly 60% of exports
  • Large, young consumer demographic
Country