The Ultimate Guide to Forex Trading in Pakistan: Top Brokers, Best Apps, and Prime Investment Opport

Foreign exchange transactions, that is, the sale of money, are popular among Pakistani residents. In 2025, the pattern of foreign exchange transactions in the country is complex and promising, filled with various brokers and trading apps. This paper will explore in depth the complexity of Pakistan's foreign exchange transactions, focusing on key aspects such as regulators, best brokers and trading apps, and potential investment opportunities.

Pakistan's regulatory landscape

The regulatory framework for foreign exchange transactions in Pakistan is overseen by multiple agencies. The National Bank of Pakistan ( SBP ) plays a vital role in regulating the exchange of physical currency. This includes money service operations and the activities of money changers in local self-service kiosks ( such as airport self-service kiosks ). However, it is worth noting that these money changers do not participate in speculation in the foreign exchange market. Speculative foreign exchange transactions can only be conducted through online brokers. SBP's Foreign Exchange Regulatory Authority ( FERD ), which oversees Pakistan's banks, aims to bring integrity to the local foreign exchange market.

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan ( SECP ) is another important regulator. Founded in 1999, SECP is headquartered in Islamabad and is responsible for regulating local capital markets, insurance companies, and other financial institutions. Although online Forex brokers can accept Pakistani residents as clients without SECP authorization, traders should still be aware of SECP regulations. SECP also maintains a list of regulated securities brokers, which can be downloaded from its official website. Currently, there are 334 such brokers on local and regional stock exchanges across Pakistan.

Best Forex Broker in Pakistan

There are several factors to consider when looking for the best Forex broker in Pakistan. We rank brokers that accept new clients from Pakistan based on overall scores.

Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers is the first choice, especially for professional traders. Founded in 1977, the company is publicly listed ( Nasdaq stock code: IBKR ) and regulated in nine Tier 1 jurisdictions. The company has a huge customer equity of USD 373.8 billion and a share capital of USD 10.1 billion, with sufficient capital. The company stands out with its excellent trading platforms, which can be used for desktops, networks, and mobile devices. It also supports third-party platforms such as TradingView, which is very popular among traders.

AvaTrade

AvaTrade is ideal for beginners and those interested in copy trading. It provides a convenient entry point into the forex trading world, with a user-friendly interface and educational resources that can help novice traders grasp the market.

Pepperstone

Pepperstone is known for its strong support for MetaTrader and replication transactions. MetaTrader is one of the world's most widely used trading platforms, and Pepperstone's products in this area make it attractive to a large number of traders.

XM Group

XM Group is a good choice for algorithmic trading. Algorithmic trading involves the use of computer-based algorithms to execute transactions, and XM Group provides the necessary infrastructure and tools for such trading strategies.

Admirals

Admirals are very suitable for MetaTrader users. It provides a seamless experience for those who prefer to use the MetaTrader platform for trading, with features that enhance the trading process.

FP Markets

FP Markets is acclaimed for its excellent pricing and is a great choice for MetaTrader. Competitive pricing is crucial in foreign exchange transactions because it directly affects the profitability of transactions, and FP Markets performs well in this regard.

IC Markets

IC Markets is considered to be the best MetaTrader broker in general. It combines a range of features, such as reliable execution, low spreads, and a user-friendly interface, making it a top choice for MetaTrader enthusiasts.

Trusted foreign exchange brokers in Pakistan

Trust is a key factor in the choice of foreign exchange brokers. We developed a trust score, which is a proprietary ranking system used to rate brokers. This score takes into account the scope of regulatory licensing of brokers. Among brokers that accept Pakistani residents, the three most trusted foreign exchange brokers in 2025 are:

1. IG: IG is the most trusted broker in Pakistan in 2025. It holds more licenses globally than any of the more than 60 Forex brokers. It is also the only foreign exchange broker to have both US and Swiss licenses, which are highly sought-after and difficult to obtain. The company has a history of nearly 40 years of operation and has long been subject to strict supervision and capital adequacy.
2. Interactive Brokers: As mentioned earlier, Interactive Brokers is trusted because of its strong regulatory clout and significant capital in nine Tier 1 jurisdictions.
3. Saxo: Saxo operates three fully regulated banks and is licensed in seven primary jurisdictions in more than a dozen international jurisdictions. With more than € 85 billion in customer assets and more than three decades of operating history, the company has built a trusted reputation.

Legitimacy of Forex Trading in Pakistan

Forex trading is legal in Pakistan, but there are certain restrictions. The exchange of physical currency at local kiosks or banks is regulated by SBP and SECP. However, at present, SECP does not provide speculative services for derivatives such as spot foreign exchange contracts or CFDs in locally authorized brokers. As a result, Pakistani Forex traders rely on international Forex brokers. It is important to choose well-regulated and properly licensed international brokers. If unregulated brokers commit fraud, traders usually cannot recover funds. It is worth noting that foreign exchange transactions are in line with Islamic law, and many international forex brokers provide Islamic accounts to Pakistani residents by the 2018 Islamic Law Governance Regulations.

Best Trading Apps in Pakistan

SaxoTraderGO

Saxo's mobile app SaxoTraderGO is considered to be the best forex trading app for Pakistani forex traders in 2025. It combines elegant design and a series of powerful features. Whether traders are exploring the market, looking for investment research, or conducting technical analysis on Saxo's powerful charts, the user experience is very smooth. It also allows trend lines to be synchronized across devices and monitoring lists and has intelligent transaction tickets that can directly switch tools for a given asset class within the app.

Other trading apps and platforms

There are other trading apps and platforms in the Pakistani market. Some claim to be Pakistan's best investment-free trading app, but it is important to be cautious. These apps may provide functions such as paper transactions or limited access to market data without initial investment, but they usually have limitations. Generally speaking, trading platforms need to provide reliable market data, fast execution, and a user-friendly interface. A good trading platform should also provide a variety of order types, such as market price orders, limit orders, stop loss orders, etc., to meet the diversified needs of traders.

Investment Opportunities: Pakistan's 10 most worth buying stocks today

Although the focus is on foreign exchange trading, the Pakistani stock market also has investment opportunities. Determining the 10 stocks that are most worth buying in Pakistan today requires in-depth study. Factors such as the company's financial status, market trends, and industry prospects need to be considered. For example, companies in industries such as energy, technology, and consumer goods may offer attractive investment opportunities. Energy companies are likely to benefit from the country's growing electricity demand, while technology companies are likely to be at the forefront of Pakistan's digital transformation. On the other hand, consumer goods companies may have a stable income due to the continuous demand for dairy products. However, like any investment, there are risks in Pakistan's stock trading, and investors should conduct thorough due diligence or seek professional advice.