# PSX investors hit a record 681,965 in October 2026, up 56% in a year as 25,747 new accounts open

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/markets/psx-investors-hit-a-record-681965-in-october-2026-up-56percent-in-a-year-as)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 3 Nov 2026
Updated: 3 Nov 2026
Retrieved: 3 Nov 2026

> The Pakistan Stock Exchange added more investors in ten months of 2026 than in the previous four years combined, and 85% of the newcomers are under 45.

**The number of investors on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) reached a record 681,965 in October 2026, up 56% from a year earlier**, according to Finance Ministry figures shared on Tuesday 3 November and [reported by Business Recorder](https://www.brecorder.com/news/40447209/pakistan-stock-exchange-investor-base-jumps-56-nears-700000-in-october). At that pace the PSX investor base will cross 700,000 within weeks.

## The numbers

| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total PSX investors, October 2026 | 681,965 (record) |
| Growth over October 2025 | 56% |
| New accounts opened in October | 25,747 (highest month on record) |
| Net new investors, January to October 2026 | 218,894 |
| Share of new investors who are Gen Z or millennials | 85% |
| Month the base passed 600,000 | August 2026 |

The ministry said the 218,894 net additions in ten months were more than the previous four full years put together, calling the expansion "a remarkable shift in investor participation, reflecting growing confidence".

Working back from the ministry's own numbers, the base stood at roughly 437,000 a year ago and about 463,000 at the start of 2026. That is our arithmetic, not a ministry figure.

## Why so many people are signing up now

The market itself has given them a reason. The KSE-100 closed its latest reading at **167,992 points** on 3 November, up from 166,564 the day before, and the long climb of the past two years is visible on our [KSE-100 page](/data/kse-100). Bank deposit returns have come down with the policy rate, now **12%** (see the [policy rate page](/data/sbp-policy-rate)), which makes shares look more attractive to savers who were earlier in fixed deposits or National Savings.

Opening an account has also become easier: most brokers now let you open a Sahulat account online with a CNIC and a bank account, without visiting an office.

## What new investors should know before buying

- **Tax on gains:** profit on shares you sell is taxed under the capital gains rules, and the rate depends on when you bought them. Run your numbers on our [capital gains tax calculator](/tools/tax/capital-gains-tax-calculator).
- **Dividends** have withholding tax deducted at source, at a lower rate if you are on the Active Taxpayers List. Filing a return is worth it; our [income tax calculator](/tools/tax/income-tax-calculator) shows what you owe on your salary.
- **Use only a licensed broker.** Check that the broker is a registered member of the PSX and regulated by the SECP before you deposit money, and never send cash to a person's own account.
- **Compare with safe returns.** Before putting savings into shares, see what a risk-free scheme pays on our [National Savings calculator](/tools/finance/national-savings-calculator).

The Finance Ministry did not say whether the figure counts unique investors or accounts, or which body (CDC or NCCPL) supplied it. We will add the breakdown if it is published.

## Frequently asked questions

**How many investors does the PSX have?**

681,965 in October 2026, a record and 56% more than a year earlier, according to the Finance Ministry.

**How many new PSX accounts were opened in October 2026?**

25,747, the highest monthly addition on record.

## Sources

- Pakistan Stock Exchange investor base jumps 56%, nears 700,000 in October (3 Nov 2026) (Business Recorder): https://www.brecorder.com/news/40447209/pakistan-stock-exchange-investor-base-jumps-56-nears-700000-in-october

How to cite: "PSX investors hit a record 681,965 in October 2026, up 56% in a year as 25,747 new accounts open", Searchable, 3 Nov 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/markets/psx-investors-hit-a-record-681965-in-october-2026-up-56percent-in-a-year-as