— The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a last hour recovery on Monday as the benchmark KSE-100 Index managed to close in the positive zone following a steep fall in early trading.

Heavy selling pressure was witnessed at the opening of the first trading session of the week with the benchmark index falling over 2,000 points. The KSE-100 Index fell to 173,636 points in intraday trading, indicating the cautious mood of investors.

But purchasing demand came back later in the session and the market was able to wipe out most of its losses before the end.

The KSE-100 Index added 124 points to close at 175,927 points by the end of trade against the previous closing level.

The comeback was a bright spot amid a turbulent day of trading. The benchmark index had closed at 175,802 points at the finish of the previous trading session.

Market watchers said the session saw higher volatility as investors reacted to changing market circumstances before bargain hunting helped push the benchmark index into positive territory.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange has had a roller coaster ride in the last few sessions as investors continue to closely follow domestic economic developments, company earnings and global financial factors that could impact market sentiment in the coming days.

A slight decrease in the price of gasoline has been made available to motorists as a result of the announcement made by the federal government about revised prices for petroleum products. However, the rate of high-speed diesel has been dramatically increased.

The Petroleum Division has announced that the price of petrol has been decreased by Rs0.35 per litre, bringing the new retail price down to Rs315.80 per litre. This information was provided in a notification that was published last week.

On the other hand, the cost of high-speed diesel per litre has climbed by Rs5.71 since the previous price increase. The most recent revision has resulted in the new retail price of high-speed diesel being set at Rs360.06 per litre.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) is responsible for conducting periodic assessments of petroleum prices based on international market trends and other important pricing considerations. The revised prices are a reflection of the most recent recommendations provided by the OGRA.

The updated rates for gasoline and diesel will go into effect at twelve o’clock in the morning, according to the Petroleum Division, and they will continue to be relevant until the next planned price revision follows.

 Pakistan and China have agreed to enhance cooperation in the livestock and meat export sectors, media reported on Sunday, as Islamabad seeks to deepen economic cooperation with Beijing.

Pakistan exported meat, including beef, mutton and poultry, to China, worth Rs142.3 billion ($512 million), in fiscal year 2023-24, according to Pakistan’s statistics bureau. Pakistan’s halal meat production stands at six million metric tons, of which a substantial quantity is available for export after meeting the local demand.

The understanding to enhance bilateral cooperation in livestock and meat export sectors was reached during Pakistan Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain’s meeting with a Chinese delegation, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.

“Pakistan has vast livestock resources and the potential to produce high-quality halal meat,” the broadcaster said, citing Hussain.

“The participants agreed to promote the establishment of modern slaughterhouses, meat processing facilities and export infrastructure in Pakistan.”

Pakistan will also improve modern technology, cold chain systems and traceability mechanisms to enhance exports of quality halal meat to China, according to the report.

In December last year, Pakistan’s prime minister approved the halal meat export policy and directed authorities draw up a three-year action plan aimed at targeting Muslim and global markets.

The new export strategy outlines regulatory reforms, disease control measures and upgraded slaughterhouse standards that fulfill the global criteria.

In September 2025, a Karachi-based private company, The Organic Meat Company Limited (TOMCL), secured a $7.5 million order to export cooked or heat-treated frozen boneless beef to China, followed by an $8.1 million contract with Gold Crest Trading FZE for frozen boneless beef exports to the UAE for industrial and household processing.