KARACHI: Pakistani stocks ended higher on Thursday, with the benchmark 100-share index of the Karachi Stock Exchange rising to 0.70 per cent, or 200.41 points, to 28,865.25 as Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan opened talks with the government over protests.

The index rose as political tensions declined after the government started negotiations with anti-government protesters camped in Islamabad since last Friday, said Samar Iqbal at Topline Securities.

Leaders of Pakistani protesters trying to bring down Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were talking with the government on Thursday as a way out of an impasse that has raised concerns about the nuclear-armed country's political stability.

Pakistan Petroleum Ltd rose 1.20 per cent to 226 rupees, while D.G.Khan Cement Co Ltd closed up 1.28 per cent at 75 rupees.

The rupee ended at 101.00/101.06 against the dollar, compared with Wednesday's close of 100.10/100.20.

Overnight rates in the money market remained flat at 9.50 per cent.