Why is Gen Z Saving For Stock Market

Pakistan’s younger generation, particularly Gen Z, is showing an increased interest in the stock market. Data from PSX reveals that between August 2025 and September 2026, over 254,043 new accounts were opened in the stock market, with 46 percent of those accounts belonging to young people aged 18 to 30.

Furthermore, the previous month marked a golden period for new account openings. In September, a record of more than 25,200 new accounts were created, 54 percent of which belong to young individuals. This data clearly highlights that youngsters and Gen Z are actively investing their attention and capital into the stock market. But what is driving this trend, and are these young investors opting for long-term investments or quick trading?

Perspectives from Young Investors

Young content creators and students are increasingly sharing their journeys into the market:

• Ayesha Malik (Content Creator): Ayesha stated that she has only been investing in the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) market for two weeks. Her interest was sparked back in 2019 when a teacher discussed dividends and mentioned PSX. Although limited avenues initially prevented her from stepping in—leading her to jump into crypto and forex markets instead—PSX has since become quite easily accessible. Her core motives are long-term compounding, utilizing a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP), and hedging against inflation.
• Hassan Ahmed (Student): Hassan first discovered the stock market through YouTube, leading him to watch educational videos about the market and various companies. He personally prefers long-term investment.
• Bilal Khan (Student): Bilal learned about the stock exchange during his O Levels and A Levels commerce studies. His passion was further intensified by watching web series and movies. He opened his PSX account last year with an initial capital investment of 100,000.

Why the Sudden Surge? 

When stock market experts were consulted regarding the primary drivers behind this youth interest, they highlighted several key factors:

• Strong Market Performance: Over the past two years, the stock market has experienced rapid growth, delivering solid profits that naturally draw in more investors.
• Downturn in Real Estate: The real estate market has remained relatively down over the past few years, redirecting investor focus.
• Government and Regulatory Steps: Government initiatives and regulatory steps have made account opening and investing significantly easier.

Usman Tariq of Jason Securities explained that the management of the Pakistan Stock Market has taken great initiatives, such as introducing the “Sahulat Account”. This account type caters to students or individuals who may lack extensive documentation to verify a source of income.

The hype on social media has also played a major role. Public figures and celebrities discussing the stock market have successfully caught the attention of the youth. However, experts note that while a massive number of new entrants are joining, overall market volumes have not grown at the same scale. This indicates that these new market entrants are primarily opening Sahulat Accounts, acting as small-scale investors who are currently under a learning phase.

Some stock market brokers point out that after experiencing heavy losses in cryptocurrency, many young people are shifting toward the stock market because it is perceived as safer and fully regulated.