The number of investors registered with the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) climbed to a record 583,000 in FY26, marking a 48% year-on-year increase and reflecting a sharp rise in participation in the country’s equity market.

According to Arif Habib Limited (AHL) Research, the latest figures represent the highest number of Unique Identification Numbers (UINs) ever recorded. A UIN is mandatory for buying and selling shares on the PSX and serves as a key indicator of market participation.

Investor Growth Accelerates

The data shows investor registrations remained relatively stable for several years before gathering pace in FY24 and accelerating sharply over the last two fiscal years.

The total number of UINs rose from roughly 390,000 in FY25 to 583,000 in FY26, the largest annual increase on record.

Over the past three years, the number of registered investors has nearly doubled, increasing from around 300,000 to approximately 580,000, highlighting growing public interest in the stock market.

Market Rally Boosts Participation

The chart also compares investor registrations with the benchmark KSE-100 Index. While investor growth remained gradual between FY16 and FY23, registrations surged alongside the index’s strong rally in FY25 and FY26.

The simultaneous rise in the KSE-100 Index and UIN registrations suggests that the market’s record performance encouraged more Pakistanis to open brokerage accounts and invest in listed companies.

The increase comes after a strong year for the PSX, supported by improving macroeconomic conditions, easing inflation, greater economic stability and renewed investor confidence.