Pakistan’s benchmark KSE-100 index slumped by over 2.2% in early trade on Tuesday, shedding 2529.39 points during intra-day trading as investors reacted to broader economic concerns and weak market cues.

By noon, the KSE-100 was trading at 111,699.59, down from the previous close of 114,872.18. The index had touched a high of 114,066.12 earlier in the session, then slipped to a low of points 111,192.92 points.

Market volume stood at nearly 74 million shares, with a total value of Rs7.22 billion. Traders noted cautious sentiment amid prevailing political and fiscal uncertainty.

Heightened tensions between Pakistan and India after the Pahalgam attack have weighed on the stock market since last week.

Last night, Information Minister stated that Pakistan possesses credible intelligence indicating that India plans to launch military action against Pakistan within the next 24 to 36 hours, using baseless and fabricated claims of involvement in the Pahalgam incident as a pretext.

The statement strongly criticised India’s unilateral stance as self-appointed judge, jury, and executioner in the region, calling it reckless. It emphasised that Pakistan, having itself suffered from terrorism, understands the pain caused by such violence.

“We have consistently condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever it occurs,” the statement noted. It added that Pakistan, as a responsible nation, had openly proposed a credible, transparent, and independent investigation by a neutral commission of experts to uncover the truth.

Regrettably, the statement said, instead of choosing the path of reason, India seems to have opted for a perilous course driven by irrationality.