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
Wells Fargo - Best for short selling in Pakistan
Founded in 1852, the Wells Fargo broker is a subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, which is currently one of the "big four" US banks and serves more than 70 million customers. The company offers a diversified portfolio of banking, investment, and mortgage products, as well as insurance and financial planning services. Wells Fargo is regulated by FINRA (CRD#: 11025/SEC#: 801-57434,8-28721) and the NFA (0320678). Its clients have access to SIPC coverage, securities trading, and investment in managed portfolios.
👍 Advantages of trading with Wells Fargo for traders from Pakistan:
•Banking products, bank cards, trading, investment, and savings accounts are managed through a single application.
•A vast array of assets: stocks, options, ETFs, fixed income instruments, and mutual funds.
•Deposits start at $1.
•Control of activities by FINRA and NFA.
•Availability of segregated accounts and SIPC insurance coverage.
•No fees are charged for the online trading of stocks and ETFs.
•Humongous opportunities for Wells Fargo's clients, such as active trading and passive investing are allowed.
👎 Disadvantages of Wells Fargo for traders from Pakistan:
•In comparison with market competitors, Wells Fargo has pretty hefty fees for trading options.
•The absence of online chat on the official website.
•Investment accounts are not protected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
4
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.
5
J.P. Morgan - Best for short selling in Pakistan
The J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing service is in the brokerage division of JPMorgan Chase & Co Financial Corporation, and it offers investment services through JP Morgan Securities LLC (JPMS). The broker is part of one of the largest and oldest financial services corporations in the United States, with a reputation for transparency, accountability, and reliability. The broker provides services of long-term and retirement investment in securities within the USA market, services of active trading, and portfolio algorithmic investing. Trading assets are stocks of companies, ETF-fund shares, options, securities of retirement and investment funds, treasury notes, bills, US, corporate, and municipal bonds, derivatives, secondary market assets, etc.
👍 Advantages of trading with J.P. Morgan for traders from Pakistan:
•Flexible and clear tariff policy. For private investing the deposit is from $1, for automatic portfolio investing the deposit amount is from $500.
•Strict regulation. The SEC regulates J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing, and it is a member of FINRA CRD#: 79/SEC#: 801-3702,8-35008 and SIPC (the investor compensation fund). The broker is also subject to an annual external audit and is controlled by an exchange auditor.
•Offers trading accounts and retirement accounts.
•Automated Investing is an investment option that ensures that an investment portfolio follows the criteria set by the investor. The brokers’ analysts manage the portfolio.
•Additional products. Every broker's client can take advantage of other investment and financial offers from concessional lending to the development of a personal financial plan and trust management services.
👎 Disadvantages of J.P. Morgan for traders from Pakistan:
•The services are only available to U.S. residents. Possible schemes to work through intermediary funds/companies lead to a significant increase in the trade cost.
•Emphasis on financial products. Technological trading tools go into the background.
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 |
Wells Fargo Commissions and Fees
After a thorough analysis of Wells Fargo's trading conditions, the experts at Traders Union identified both trading and non-trading fees. Below is the amount of fees for online trading and automated telephone trading. The fee for trades in stocks (excluding penny stocks) and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is $0 per trade; penny stocks (stocks under $1) is $34.95 or 3.5% of the amount, with options of $5.95 + $0.75 per contract; with fixed income instruments it is $50 per transaction. The fee for mutual funds that are not listed without transaction fees is $35. For trades made through a live broker, the client pays $25 + an online fee is charged. Non-trading fees: for withdrawal of funds by internal bank transfer is $30; and for transfers outside the US, it is $40.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
Standard Account |
From $6.7 |
Yes |
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 |
J.P. Morgan Commissions and Fees
Analysts at the Traders Union examined J.P. Morgan's Self-Directed Investing pricing policy and highlighted the main fees for both investment options. The main fee is a management commission of 0.35% of the investment portfolio amount per year. For Self-Directed Investing, depending on the type of asset, (for the primary market) the commissions range from $20-$25 per transaction + $0.65 per contract for trading in pending orders. Commissions for market orders start from $0.65 per contract without a minimum charge. For transactions with secondary market assets such as municipal and corporate bonds, the minimum commission is $10 + $1 for each bond.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
|
Self-Directed Investing |
from $0.65 |
No |
|
Automated Investing |
from $0.15/month |
No |
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 | Wells Fargo | Zacks Trade | J.P. Morgan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall score |
7.45 |
7.03 |
5.95 |
5.2 |
4.36 |
|
Execution of orders |
8.8 |
8 |
7.09 |
6.24 |
4.84 |
|
Investment instruments |
9.4 |
8.6 |
7.51 |
6.66 |
5.26 |
|
Withdrawal speed |
9.2 |
8.4 |
7.15 |
6.3 |
4.9 |
|
Customer Support work |
9 |
8.2 |
7.45 |
6.6 |
5.2 |
|
Variety of instruments |
8.7 |
7.9 |
6.93 |
6.08 |
4.68 |
|
Trading platform |
9.5 |
8.7 |
7.67 |
6.82 |
5.42 |
|
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FAQ
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.
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).
Does the choice of a beginner differ from the choice of an experienced trader?
Yes. A novice trader should primarily consider the availability of educational tools and a demo account, as well as basic assets. A more experienced trader is interested in wider opportunities on advanced account types, a wider choice of instruments for technical analysis, and a greater number of trading instruments.
What learning instruments can a broker offer?
Brokers offer various educational options. These include full-fledged educational courses, or video tutorials, articles, and books. Companies also often hold seminars and webinars.
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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.