Where to buy bitcoin (through debit card) at the lowest fees? I'm from Pakistan and there is this website localbitcoins.com. Is it secure?
There are few sites that allow you to buy with credit card but isn't available every where so it's better if you use localbitcoin. For security it is completely secure how it works is you open a trade with the seller send the funds to the details he provided until then the funds will be with the site holding as escrow after you made the payment submit the proof if the seller tries to scam dispute it and you are totally safe as the seller can't take the funds until the dispute or trade isn't completed. Whatever happens never send the funds without opening a trade.
Once I buy it from somewhere, how do I secure it? I read about bitcoin wallets.
You can use online wallets or desktop wallets both have their own risks involved.
Can I directly ask the seler @ localbitcoins.com to send it to my wallet at the exchange? Will my coins be sucure at the exchange?
No he won't do that as he will be in a risk just complete the trade and withdraw from your local bitcoin wallet. Most exchanges have been hacked by now they did upgrade their security but as you are a long term investor i wouldn't recommend you to store on an exchange.
How to buy other crypto-currencies from? What are the best and secure exchanges and how does it actually work?
You can use a exchange like bittrex or poloniex or you can exchange instantly using changelly or shapeshift. On exchanges you can either buy at the current price or place a bid if the price reaches your bid your order get's proccessed.
I'm buying it from an investment point of view to keep it for a few years. In this scenario, what would you advise and will storing the coins @ the exhange be wise or should I store them somewhere else.
If you are gonna buy a large amount of coins use this :
https://trezor.io this is the most secure wallet.
Hope this helps you if you have any more questions feel free to ask me or someone else will surely assit you.
many thanks for your quick and detailed feedback. A few more queries please.
-is there any website where I can do a quick comparison as to which website would cost me cheaper to buy the bitcoin from? I would be using a debit card to buy it.
-I would like to buy a little since have reservations on crypto-currencies. The only reason am buying it is that maybe it would turn to diamond in the coming years (and might use it to pay for my children's education) but have also in mind that it might turn into dust
-I'm not planning to immediately move to a hardware wallet because of its non-availability locally, plus its a little costly. Is it not reliable at all to keep it on the exchange? I plan to buy in due course of time a few other crypto-currencies and maybe then at a later stage would buy a hardware wallet to store them all and sleep on it for a few years. Please advise on this in detail, if possible.
-I read the story of ethereum crash somewhere which made someone a millionaire overnight. Personally not so lucky, but would still want to try my luck. Is there such a place/exchange where I can mention my target price (as is done in stocks?) so if a currency goes down, its automatically purchased? I would like to know if this process can also be done for the purchase of BTC as well?