The Struggle of Trading Globally from Pakistan — My Ongoing Journey

By Sikandar Hamza

When I first heard about trading in 2018, I didn’t fully understand what it was. I was just curious — I wanted to learn what Forex, stock markets, and online investing really meant. Back then, especially in the countryside areas of Pakistan, most people had no idea about these things. Many thought it was gambling or “too risky” to even try. But I was different — I wanted to understand how the world markets worked.

I began my journey slowly. I watched videos, talked to experienced people, and started learning how global markets function. My cousin, who lived in Australia, introduced me to Forex and stock trading. That sparked something in me. But learning wasn’t easy — and even today, working in the global trading market from Pakistan is still full of obstacles.

After years of learning the basics, I started to take trading seriously around 2020–2021. I opened demo accounts, practiced strategies, and tried to manage my emotions — something that is harder than it sounds. Then came the real challenge: moving from “learning” to actually investing real money in global markets from Pakistan.

This is where the real struggle begins.


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The Reality of Global Access from Pakistan

Pakistan doesn’t have proper support for international retail investors. Most local brokers don’t offer access to U.S. or global stocks. International brokers like Interactive Brokers (IBKR), eToro, or Trading 212 have strict requirements. Even if they allow you to open an account, sending funds abroad legally from Pakistan is nearly impossible for most people.

💸 Bank transfer issues: Many banks in Pakistan do not support outward remittance for “investment purposes” unless it's for education or medical reasons.
💳 PayPal isn’t available, Wise isn’t fully supported, and many platforms like Skrill or Neteller have limited or blocked services for Pakistani users.
🚫 KYC and documentation is another big issue — sometimes global brokers need international utility bills, foreign numbers, or bank statements, which most Pakistanis can’t provide.

Even if you manage to send funds through some workaround, it’s stressful and not fully sustainable. You constantly fear that your account might get frozen, funds reversed, or flagged.


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Emotionally and Mentally Draining

It’s not just technical — it’s emotional too.
Every time I see people from other countries freely investing in Amazon, Google, or Tesla stocks, I feel frustrated. Not because I can’t trade — but because I’ve learned, I’m ready, but the system is not letting me in.

I spent years learning about stock trading, swing trading strategies, risk management, portfolio building — but now when I finally have the skill and mindset, I’m stuck at the entry gate.


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Why I’m Still Not Giving Up

Despite all this, I haven’t quit. I’ve tried platforms like IBKR, I’ve explored legal routes, I’ve studied every possible option to make things work. I’ve even taught others what I’ve learned, hoping someone finds a better path.

Trading has become more than just profit — it’s become a symbol of my patience, consistency, and resilience. Every time I face a new roadblock, I remind myself why I started:
Because I wanted to build something bigger. Because I believe financial freedom shouldn’t be limited by borders.


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What Needs to Change

To truly help Pakistanis enter the global markets, a few things must change:

1. Legal remittance options for investment should be introduced and simplified.


2. Fintech integration — services like PayPal, Wise, and Stripe must be allowed.


3. Educational support — young traders should be guided about legal and safe paths to global investing.



Until that happens, people like me will keep finding creative but exhausting ways to access the global financial system.


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Trading from Pakistan into global markets isn’t just difficult — it’s a test of patience, strategy, and emotional strength. But for those of us who truly want it, it’s worth every bit of the struggle.


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This article was created with the assistance of AI tools for editing and formatting.