Pakistan’s stock market came under intense selling pressure on Monday as escalating military tensions between the United States and Iran rattled investor confidence, sending the benchmark KSE-100 Index down by more than 1,700 points during intraday trading.

 

The sharp decline began immediately after the opening bell, with investors rushing to offload shares amid growing concerns that the geopolitical conflict could disrupt global oil supplies and fuel a fresh surge in energy prices. The benchmark index dropped as much as 1,944 points before recovering slightly later in the session, though it remained deep in negative territory.

Market data showed the KSE-100 fluctuating throughout the day, reaching an intraday low of 179,448 points before trimming some losses. Trading activity remained strong, with more than 249 million shares changing hands in deals worth over Rs15.5 billion, reflecting heightened market volatility.

Analysts attributed the sell-off to renewed fears of military strikes involving the United States and Iran, which pushed international oil prices up by more than 3%. Investors remain worried that any disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global crude exports, could have significant economic consequences and weigh further on financial markets. As uncertainty persists, traders are expected to monitor geopolitical developments for signs of stability closely.