How I Started Trading – My Journey from Pakistan’s Countryside to the World of Forex and Stocks

By Sikandar Hamza

When I first started learning about trading, almost nobody in my area knew what Forex, stock trading, or online investing even was. In 2018, in Pakistan — especially in the countryside areas of KPK — these things sounded strange and confusing to most people. People used to think online trading was gambling or a scam, and many were afraid to even try.

I was lucky because my cousin, who was living in Australia, had already learned Forex and stock trading back in 2014. When he came back to Pakistan, many of his friends asked him to teach them about trading. One of my friends was very interested, and he invited me to take classes with him. I decided to join him for a couple of lessons, but at first, I didn’t find it interesting. Everything felt new, difficult, and almost impossible to understand.

As time went on, however, I became curious about how trading works. I started to think about how amazing it would be if I could make money by learning to analyze markets. My interest kept growing, and I spent hours reading, watching videos, and talking to my cousin to understand more about trading strategies.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the markets became extremely volatile. Prices were moving up and down rapidly, and it was very hard to trust any single trade. Many people left trading during that time, but I stayed focused on learning. I realized that even during tough times, if you keep learning and practicing, you can improve your skills.

In 2021, I finally opened my first real Forex trading account. Like most beginners, I experienced many losses because I couldn’t control my emotions. I would panic when trades went against me and make mistakes by exiting trades too early or too late. Those losses were painful, but they taught me important lessons about discipline, patience, and emotional control.

By the end of 2023, I decided to take formal classes on stock trading to expand my knowledge and start thinking seriously about investing in stocks. I learned about technical analysis, fundamental analysis, and risk management. This helped me gain more confidence and better control over my trades.

Since then, I’ve developed a regular trading routine that has made me feel much more connected to the financial world. I’ve realized that trading is not just about making money — it’s about learning how the global economy works, understanding trends, and making decisions under pressure.

Trading has taught me many valuable life lessons, including:

Consistency is everything. Without it, you will struggle to succeed in any field.

Emotional control is essential. If you let your emotions guide you, you will make bad decisions.

Hard work and perseverance matter. Success doesn’t happen overnight; you have to earn it step by step.

There will always be people who know more than you. Instead of feeling jealous, learn from them and improve yourself.


I used to panic whenever trades didn’t go my way, but with more experience, I’ve learned to stay calm and focused. Now, I know that just like in life, in trading, you must enter and exit at the right time and make decisions carefully. Good risk management is one of the most important skills. Even small, consistent profits are better than chasing big wins and taking huge risks.

Trading has helped me grow stronger and more patient as a person. I’ve learned that success comes slowly, and you should never expect everything to happen overnight. There will always be challenges, losses, and difficult days, but the key is to never give up. If you stay committed to learning and keep practicing, you can achieve your goals in trading or in any part of life.


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