In a dramatic reversal, the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) experienced a severe downturn on Monday, with the KSE-100 index crashing by over 5,400 points, closing at 167,691.08. This decline follows a brief recovery last week, where the index had gained nearly 500 points amid optimism over US-Iran nuclear talks. The market's volatility was exacerbated by escalating geopolitical tensions and domestic political issues, leading to significant sell-offs across various sectors. Analysts noted that this marks the third major meltdown in just two weeks, with the KSE-100 losing 5,149.80 points on February 16 and 6,683 points on February 19, highlighting the fragility of investor sentiment in the face of uncertainty. A.A.H. Soomro, an independent economist, warned that the ongoing geopolitical strife could push oil prices above $90 per barrel, which would increase Pakistan's import bill by $5 billion annually and potentially lead to inflation rates exceeding 12-15%.