KARACHI: Pakistan’s main stock exchange closed lower, with the benchmark 100-share index of the Karachi Stock Exchange falling 1.28 percent or 287.38 points to 22,236.33.

The local bourse fell by another 1 percent amid a decline in international equity and currency markets due to the ongoing Syrian crisis.

Index heavy-weights Muslim Commercial Bank Ltd. and Pakistan State Oil Co. Ltd. contributed heavily to the decline, dealers said.

Muslim Commercial Bank Ltd. fell 2.83 percent to 266.99 rupees while Pakistan State Oil Co. Ltd. was down 4.41 percent to 309 rupees.

The rupee ended weaker at 103.86/103.93 against the dollar, compared to Tuesday’s close of 103.74/103.79.

Overnight rates in the money market fell to 7.75 percent from Tuesday’s close of 8 percent.