Pak Stock Exchange index rises amidst news of IMF deal

Pakistan Stock Exchange's (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 index jumped more than 1,000 points as the country expects to sign a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to unlock much-needed funds, local media reported.

The benchmark index rose 1245.32 points as the market anticipates that Pakistan can revive the stalled IMF loan to avoid a sovereign default, Geo News reported.

Saad Ali, a capital market expert said the revised budget had revived hopes among the market stakeholders after the government added fresh taxes to the Finance Bill 2023-24, Geo News reported.

"The revised budget with additional tax measures have revived market hopes of the resumption of IMF programme as the new budget might meet IMFs condition for adequate fiscal contraction," he said.

Head of Research at Pakistan-Kuwait Investment Company Samiullah Tariq said "optimism" regarding the IMF deal resulted in today's market surge.

Tariq also believes that the Pakistani authorities and the IMF could sign the staff-level agreement (SLA) within this week, Geo News reported.

The National Assembly passed the Finance Bill 2023-24 with a majority vote Sunday, with a revised outlay of Pak Rs 14.48 trillion after adopting certain amendments to the proposed budgetary measures.

In a last-ditch effort to clinch a stalled rescue package with the IMF, the government introduced a number of changes to its budget for the fiscal year 2024.

The decision to amend the budget had come after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on the sidelines of the Global Financing Summit in Paris, Geo News reported.