Market activity also declined notably. A total of 1,978,654,033 shares changed hands, down from 3,078,369,285 shares a day earlier. The total trading value dropped to Rs36,992 billion from Rs50,608 billion, reflecting cautious investor sentiment.

Out of 483 listed companies, 166 recorded gains while 277 ended in losses, and 40 remained unchanged. The market showed mixed movement across sectors, with limited buying support amid broader selling pressure.

WorldCall Telecom led the trading chart with 891,368,186 shares traded at Rs2.23 per share. It was followed by K-Electric Limited with 262,730,077 shares at Rs7.38 per share, and Bank of Punjab with 84,164,333 shares at Rs35.83 per share.

Among top gainers, Ismail Industries Limited surged by Rs95.97 to close at Rs2,100.00 per share, while The Thal Industries Corporation Limited rose by Rs43.22, closing at Rs648.32 per share.

On the losing side, Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited saw the biggest fall of Rs185.27 to settle at Rs29,551.00 per share, followed by Hoechst Pakistan Limited, which dropped by Rs123.67 to Rs4,026.33 per share.

Read more: Prices of essential items continue to rise as inflation up by 0.49% across Pakistan

In the futures market, 327 companies traded shares; of these, 100 gained while 227 declined, indicating sustained market pressure.

The PSX’s decline reflects investor profit-taking after recent highs and concerns over global market uncertainty. Lower trading volumes suggest traders are adopting a wait-and-see approach ahead of key financial policy announcements. Analysts believe the market’s short-term correction is natural but caution that further volatility may continue if economic indicators remain unstable.