After a sharp correction in the previous session, optimism returned to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Thursday as the benchmark KSE-100 Index surged over 1,000 points in early trading.

At 2:40pm, the benchmark index was hovering at 133,602.12 level, a gain of 1,025.14 points or 0.77%.

Strong buying interest was seen across key sectors, including automobile assemblers, cement, commercial banks, oil marketing companies, power generation, and refineries.

Heavily weighted stocks such as Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL), Hub Power Company (HUBCO), Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), Indus Motor Company (INDU), Honda Atlas Cars (HCAR), MCB Bank, Meezan Bank (MEBL), and United Bank Limited (UBL) all traded firmly in positive territory.

The bullish sentiment was underpinned by improving economic indicators.

In a historic milestone, Pakistan posted its highest-ever home remittance inflows, crossing $38 billion in the last fiscal year (FY25).

The record surge has been attributed to robust policy measures and sustained efforts by the federal government and the State Bank of Pakistan to route remittances through formal channels.