Islamabad, The process to elect the 14th President of Pakistan has commenced today with political heavyweights Asif Ali Zardari and Mahmood Khan Achakzai in the fray for the nation’s highest office.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the electoral college, which includes members from the Senate, National Assembly, and the four provincial assemblies, is participating in a secret ballot to elect the new President for a five-year term.

The voting is taking place amid a joint session of the parliament at the Parliament House in Islamabad, where members of both the National Assembly and the Senate will cast their votes. Concurrently, sessions in the provincial assemblies have also been convened as part of the electoral exercise.

The polling, which started at 10:00 a.m., will run until 4:00 p.m., marking a critical juncture in Pakistan’s democratic journey. The election comes at a time when the country faces numerous challenges, and the newly elected President’s role will be pivotal in navigating through these.