KARACHI—Pakistan’s benchmark stock index, the KSE-100, plunged more than 2,000 points during early intraday trading on Friday, reflecting heightened market volatility and profit-taking by investors, according to Karachi Stock Exchange figures. The index fell from its previous close of approximately 187,832 points to around 185,765 by mid-morning in a steep early slide that wiped out recent gains.

Leading active stocks showed mixed performance: K-Electric saw notable volume and gains, while major banking names such as National Bank of Pakistan and Bank of Punjab declined sharply, contributing to the broader downward pressure on the market.

Other companies experienced wide-ranging movements, with several smaller firms posting double-digit percentage changes in both directions, highlighting uneven investor sentiment.

The early drop in the KSE-100 underscores persistent uncertainty in Pakistan’s equity markets as traders react to short-term profit booking and broader economic cues, continuing a trend of significant intraday swings.