In order to trade successfully, it is very important to choose the right broker. in Pakistan, a large number of companies provide access to trading and you will have to choose the one for you among them. It is important to work only with reliable brokers providing all the required instruments for trading based on your trading strategy. TU analysts have selected the best ira brokers for short selling in Pakistan 2025. You can compare their features and trading conditions.
1
Interactive Brokers - Best for short selling in Pakistan
Interactive Brokers is among the best-known global online brokers. Based in the US, it has been operating since 1977. Interactive Brokers allows clients to trade products from 160 exchanges including stocks, option, currencies, bonds, funds and more from a single unified platform. The company is regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the US Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the UK Financial Regulatory Authority (FCA, 208159), and other international financial regulation commissions. Interactive Brokers has earned recognition as a top broker, garnering multiple awards and accolades from respected industry sources such as Barron's, Investopedia, Stockbrokers.com,and many others. Also, the broker is popular in other countries. Here you can read reviews of Interactive Brokers in Canada, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Ireland.
👍 Advantages of trading with Interactive Brokers for traders from Pakistan:
•extensive and free educational resources through the IBKR Campus;
•access to160markets in 36 countries and territories;
•trading in stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds, funds and more from a single unified platform.
👎 Disadvantages of Interactive Brokers for traders from Pakistan:
•Support service does not work on Saturday;
2
ETrade - Best for short selling in Pakistan
The Etrade broker is a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, the financial conglomerate, which has been operating since 1982. Today, E*TRADE is the leading online platform for financial instruments trading on the world's major exchanges. It offers operations with stocks, options, futures, bonds, ETFs, as well as investments in mutual funds. The broker is a member of FINRA (CRD#: 29106/SEC#: 8-44112), SIPC, NFA (0401545), and the FDIC, and provides services according to its license with the SEC, the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
👍 Advantages of trading with ETrade for traders from Pakistan:
•Fully adaptable to e-commerce through its mobile applications.
•No commissions when working with stock options on American exchanges.
•Twenty-four/seven customer support via online chat.
👎 Disadvantages of ETrade for traders from Pakistan:
•The Forex market tools are not available for trading.
•Training is provided in English only,
•Leverage is limited and cannot exceed 50% of the trader's personal funds.
•You cannot open a demo account to test the broker's conditions.
•There is no support, the website is only in English.
3
TD Ameritrade - Best for short selling in Pakistan
TD Ameritrade (Charles Schwab) is an American broker that provides top-notch online services for trading and investing in securities on the OTC markets. The company was founded in 1975 under the name First Omaha Securities. It was reimagined as an online broker in 1998. TD Ameritrade (Charles Schwab) is a member of FINRA (CRD#: 7870/SEC#: 801-60469,8-23395 ) and SIPC and currently serves over 11 million client accounts. The broker offers simple pricing, high-tech trading platforms with professional analytics, and a wide range of markets and investment products. TD Ameritrade (Charles Schwab) was named Best Online Broker 2020 by StockBrokers.com and ranked first in the Platforms & Tools, Beginners, Education, and Customer Service categories.
👍 Advantages of trading with TD Ameritrade for traders from Pakistan:
•The broker's regulators are FINRA and SIPC, which guarantee the protection of client funds and their return in the event of TD Ameritrade's (Charles Schwab) bankruptcy or other default.
•Clients have open access to the securities market, OTC, derivatives trading, and legal work with Forex instruments.
•The broker offers a vast array of investment products for generating passive income.
•The company does not charge fees for trading in American and Canadian stocks, options, and ETFs.
•There are no requirements for the size of the minimum deposit on cash accounts.
•The broker offers high-tech author's terminals that work from desktop or mobile device.
👎 Disadvantages of TD Ameritrade for traders from Pakistan:
•A high entry threshold has been set for margin trading and investment in managed portfolios.
•The broker offers a limited selection of payment systems for deposits and withdrawals.
•There is no online chat on the company's website. It is available only in some versions of trading platforms.
4
Advantage Futures - Best for short selling in Pakistan
The Advantage Futures broker (Advantage Futures) is an American brokerage that began its operations in 2003. The company is regulated by three independent bodies: the US National Futures Association (NFA 327359), the US Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA 39362), and the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Advantage Futures specializes in futures trading and provides traders with direct access to seven exchanges for derivatives. Experience in trading in the futures market is not obligatory, the broker offers trading platforms for different clients’ needs, and the support service will help each client individually to choose the appropriate options.
👍 Advantages of trading with Advantage Futures for traders from Pakistan:
•The broker allows you to kick the tires and get acquainted with trading conditions using a demo account.
•A trader can choose accounts with different forms of ownership.
•The company offers a lightning-fast execution of transactions, so trading at Advantage Futures is suitable for scalpers.
•The company offers low fees, which decreases further with increasing trading volumes.
•Providing traders with direct access to derivatives exchanges.
•Keeping clients’ funds in segregated accounts.
•A vast array of trading platforms for different clients’ needs.
👎 Disadvantages of Advantage Futures for traders from Pakistan:
•Bonuses for trading in the company but contests are not provided.
•High level of minimum deposit.
•The company's clients do not have access to replenishment and withdrawal of funds through electronic payment systems.
5
Zacks Trade - Best for short selling in Pakistan
Zacks Trade is a stock broker headquartered in Chicago. The company has been providing investment services and quality analytical research since 1978. It is a division of LBMZ Securities, for which Interactive Brokers provides clearing and execution services. Zacks Trade is regulated by FINRA (CRD#: 7874/SEC#: 8-23266) and SEC, and is a member of SIPC. The broker offers its clients access to trading securities of the USA, Europe and Asia using proprietary platforms with powerful analysis instruments.
👍 Advantages of trading with Zacks Trade for traders from Pakistan:
•The list of countries, the residents of which can open an account, includes 218 states.
•Wide selection of shares of international markets and quoted at the US stock exchanges.
•Reliable regulation by highly respected regulation authorities FINRA and SEC.
•No account service, inactivity or deposit fees.
•Fully digitalized account opening procedure.
•Over 20 base currencies.
•Access to subscription to professional instruments of research from third party providers and specialists of the broker’s own analytical department Zacks Investment Research.
👎 Disadvantages of Zacks Trade for traders from Pakistan:
•At the moment, the broker’s clients cannot trade cryptocurrencies, futures, commodities and Forex instruments. Only shares are available from the securities of foreign exchanges.
•IRA accounts are available only for US tax residents.
•Funds cannot be deposited to the account using debit/credit cards. Also withdrawals to debit/credit cards are not available.
Commissions & Fees
Brokerage fees are the amount of money that you pay for using the services that a brokerage offers in order to perform trading and manage investments. The brokerage fee structure and regulations vary from broker to broker, and there are two primary fee types which are:
Trading Fees: This type of fee is only charged when you perform a trade. It can be a conversion fee, margin rate, financing rate, spread, or commission.
Non-Trading Fees: This type of fee isn't directly related to your trading activity, and it can include inactivity fee, withdrawal fee, deposit fee, etcetera.
Interactive Brokers Commissions and Fees
Traders Union analysts have verified Interactive Brokers for hidden fees and assessed the commission level in the company. You can withdraw funds for free once a month; if you withdraw funds more often, you’ll have to pay a fee, the amount of which varies depending on the base currency of the account and the payment system.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
Real |
From $2 |
Depending on the currency and withdrawal method |
ETrade Commissions and Fees
The broker's terms analysis for the direct and hidden commissions proved the following: the trading fee amount depends on the assets traded. There are also extra fees for certain types of contracts (index-type options). When working with securities of foreign exchange companies, a tax on financial transactions is collected. It is 0.12-0.3% of the total value of the transaction depending on the specific country. Moreover, the custody of depositary receipts for American shares involves a fee of $0.005 to $0.05 per unit. All information about fees is freely available on the E*TRADE website.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
E*TRADE |
from $1 |
There is a bank commission |
TD Ameritrade Commissions and Fees
Regardless of the account balance and the number of securities purchased, Ameritrade does not deduct fees from clients for trading in US stocks, domestic and Canadian ETFs, and options. Options trading is charged a fee of $0.65 per contract. Futures and options futures carry a commission of $2.25 per contract (plus exchange and regulatory fees). OTC trades that include non-US stocks are subject to a $6.95 fee. TD Ameritrade (Charles Schwab) does not charge a fee to open an account, platform provision, market data supply, inactivity, deposit, or the withdrawal of funds.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
Standart |
From $1.65 |
No |
Advantage Futures Commissions and Fees
Experts at Traders Union specialists analyzed Advantage Futures LLC to find out what fees a broker charges for trading and non-trading actions of clients. It turned out that Advantage Futures charges a fee exclusively for the execution of trades, and the amount of the fee depends on the volume of trade. If the trading volume is from 0 to 100 contracts, the fee per contract is $0.99,; with a volume from 101 to 1000, the — a fee is $0.69,; with a volume from 1001 to 2000, the — a fee is $0.49,; with a volume from 2,001 to 5,000, the fee — a fee is $ 0.29,; with a volume from 5,001 to 10,000, the — a fee will be $0.19. If the trading volume exceeds 10,001 contracts, the fee will be $0.07.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
Individual Account (U.S. Citizencitizens) |
From $0.99 per contract |
No |
|
Individual Account (Non U.S.non-U.S. Citizencitizens) |
From $0.99 per contract |
No |
|
Corporate Account (U.S. Citizencitizens) |
From $0.99 per contract |
No |
|
Corporate Account (Non U.S.non-U.S. Citizencitizens) |
From $0.99 per contract |
No |
|
LLC Account (U.S. Citizencitizens) |
From $0.99 per contract |
No |
|
LLC Account (Non U.S.non-U.S. Citizencitizens) |
From $0.99 per contract |
No |
|
Partnership Account (U.S. Citizencitizens) |
From $0.99 per contract |
No |
|
Partnership Account (Non U.S.non-U.S. Citizencitizens) |
From $0.7 per contract |
No |
|
Trust Account |
From $0.7 per contract |
No |
|
Introduced Account |
From $0.7 per contract |
No |
|
Managed Account |
From $0.7 per contract |
No |
Zacks Trade Commissions and Fees
Zacks Trade charges trading commissions and also a non-trading withdrawal fee, starting from the second withdrawal (no fee is charged on the first withdrawal of the month). The amount of trading commissions depends on the type of asset and the selected market. For trading US stocks and ETFs worth over $1, the broker charges USD 0.01 per share (but no less than $1), worth less than $1 – 1% of the trade (but no less than $1). Commissions on foreign stocks are calculated in the account currency. As is with the US stocks, there is a minimum commission. For the trades on Canadian stocks, Zacks Trade charges CAD 0.02 per share. For trading stocks of other countries, a percentage of the trade value is charged: 0.3% for Mexico and Australia, 0.1-1% - Europe, 0.05-0.3% - Asia. Commissions on options are as follows: $1 for the first contract, $0.75 for the following contracts, no fees are charged on execution and assignment. For the trade on mutual funds (over $1 per share), the investors pay $27.50, corporate bonds – 0.1% of the nominal value +$3 per bond. For currency conversation for the securities traded at the international exchanges, a $2-2.5 commission is charged.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
Cash Account |
from $1 |
Charged on the second and following withdrawals within one month |
|
Margin Account |
from $1 |
Charged on the second and following withdrawals within one month |
|
Portfolio Margin Account |
from $1 |
Charged on the second and following withdrawals within one month |
Summary
Many brokers are available for traders from Pakistan, but not all of them offer good conditions. In this review, TU experts chose the Best ira brokers for short selling in Pakistan 2025. These are the most trusted companies that offer the best conditions for traders. You will also be able to review the general assessment of each broker.
Overall score of the best IRA Brokers For Short Selling in Pakistan
| Interactive Brokers | ETrade | TD Ameritrade | Advantage Futures | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall score |
7.45 |
7.03 |
6.79 |
5.65 |
5.2 |
|
Execution of orders |
8.8 |
8 |
7.8 |
6.79 |
6.24 |
|
Investment instruments |
9.4 |
8.6 |
8.4 |
7.21 |
6.66 |
|
Withdrawal speed |
9.2 |
8.4 |
8.2 |
6.85 |
6.3 |
|
Customer Support work |
9 |
8.2 |
8 |
7.15 |
6.6 |
|
Variety of instruments |
8.7 |
7.9 |
7.7 |
6.63 |
6.08 |
|
Trading platform |
9.5 |
8.7 |
8.5 |
7.37 |
6.82 |
|
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FAQ
Is it possible to work with offshore brokers?
It is best not to work with offshore brokers. However, if you have chosen such a company, you need to check and analyze it very thoroughly. There are offshore brokers with good reputations. Before you start working with such a company, deposit the minimum amount and start trading. Once you’ve worked with the broker for a little while and checked how it operates and how quickly it processes withdrawals, you can start depositing higher amounts.
What is a demo account and why is it important?
On a demo account, you trade by using virtual funds. It is important to choose a broker offering a demo account both for beginners, who are only learning, and for experienced traders, who can use this account type to test new strategies or EAs risk-free.
What commissions and fees should I take into consideration when I am choosing a broker?
The commissions and fees in the financial markets are divided into trading and non-tradings ones. Trading fees are the fees that are charged directly during trading (spread, commission per lot, etc.), while non-trading fees are the ones charged outside the trading process (for example, account fee, inactivity fee, deposit and withdrawal fee).
Why is a license important for a broker?
License is the key document testifying to the broker’s reliability. It means that the company complies with the requirements of the financial regulatory authority that issued it. It is recommended that you choose brokers with licenses from top financial regulators: the USA, European Union, the UK, as these jurisdictions have the strictest licensing requirements.
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Team that worked on the article
Mikhail Vnuchkov joined Traders Union as an author in 2020. He began his professional career as a journalist-observer at a small online financial publication, where he covered global economic events and discussed their impact on the segment of financial investment, including investor income. With five years of experience in finance, Mikhail joined Traders Union team, where he is in charge of forming the pool of latest news for traders, who trade stocks, cryptocurrencies, Forex instruments and fixed income.
Olga Shendetskaya has been a part of the Traders Union team as an author, editor and proofreader since 2017. Since 2020, Shendetskaya has been the assistant chief editor of the website of Traders Union, an international association of traders. She has over 10 years of experience of working with economic and financial texts. In the period of 2017-2020, Olga has worked as a journalist and editor of laftNews news agency, economic and financial news sections. At the moment, Olga is a part of the team of top industry experts involved in creation of educational articles in finance and investment, overseeing their writing and publication on the Traders Union website.