# List of heads of state of Pakistan

Fifteen individuals have served as head of state of Pakistan, from the foundation of Pakistan in 1947 to the present day. The current head of state of Pakistan is Asif Ali Zardari, elected in 2024 after being nominated by the Pakistan People's Party.
From 1947 to 1956 the head of state was the Pakistani monarch, who was the same person as the monarch of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The Monarch was represented in Pakistan by the Governor-General. Pakistan became a republic under the Constitution of 1956 and the Monarch and Governor-General were replaced by a ceremonial President.

## Monarchy (1947–1956)

The succession to the throne of Pakistan was the same as the succession to the British throne.
| No. | Portrait | Monarch (Birth–Death) | Reign | Reign | Reign | Prime ministers |
| No. | Portrait | Monarch (Birth–Death) | Start | End | Total | Prime ministers |
| 1 | | George VI (1895–1952) | 14 August 1947 | 6 February 1952 | 4 years, 176 days | Khan |
| 1 | | George VI (1895–1952) | 14 August 1947 | 6 February 1952 | 4 years, 176 days | Nazimuddin |
| 2 | | Elizabeth II (1926–2022) | 6 February 1952 | 23 March 1956 | 4 years, 46 days | Nazimuddin |
| 2 | | Elizabeth II (1926–2022) | 6 February 1952 | 23 March 1956 | 4 years, 46 days | Bogra |
| 2 | | Elizabeth II (1926–2022) | 6 February 1952 | 23 March 1956 | 4 years, 46 days | Ali |

### Governors-General

The Governor-General was the representative of the monarch in Pakistan and exercised most of the powers of the monarch. The Governor-General was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the monarch. After the passage of the Statute of Westminster 1931, the Governor-General was appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Pakistan without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy the Chief Justice served as Officer Administering the Government.
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Monarch (Reign) |
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Monarch (Reign) |
| 1 | | Muhammad Ali Jinnah (1876–1948) | 14 August 1947 | 11 September 1948 | 1 year, 28 days | George VI (1947–1952) |
| 2 | | Sir Khawaja Nazimuddin (1894–1964) | 14 September 1948 | 17 October 1951 | 3 years, 33 days | George VI (1947–1952) |
| 3 | | Sir Ghulam Muhammad (1895–1956) | 17 October 1951 | 7 August 1955 | 3 years, 294 days | George VI (1947–1952) |
| 3 | | Sir Ghulam Muhammad (1895–1956) | 17 October 1951 | 7 August 1955 | 3 years, 294 days | Elizabeth II (1952–1956) |
| 4 | | Iskandar Ali Mirza (1899–1969) | 7 August 1955 | 23 March 1956 | 229 days | Elizabeth II (1952–1956) |

## Republic (1956–present)

Under the 1956 Constitution, the first constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President replaced the monarch as ceremonial head of state. The President was elected by the Electoral College for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy the Chairman of the Senate served as Acting President.

### Presidents

| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Political party | Elected | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party | Political party | Elected | Ref. |
| 1 | | Iskandar Ali Mirza (1899–1969) | 23 March 1956 | 27 October 1958 | 2 years, 218 days | | Republican Party | – | |
| 2 | | Ayub Khan (1907–1974) | 27 October 1958 | 8 June 1962 | 3 years, 224 days | | Pakistan Army | – | |
| 2 | | Ayub Khan (1907–1974) | 8 June 1962 | 25 March 1969 | 6 years, 290 days | | Convention Muslim League | 1965 | |
| 3 | | Yahya Khan (1917–1980) | 25 March 1969 | 20 December 1971 | 2 years, 270 days | | Pakistan Army | – | |
| 4 | | Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (1928–1979) | 20 December 1971 | 14 August 1973 | 1 year, 237 days | | PPP | – | |
| 5 | Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry | Fazal Elahi Chaudhry (1904–1982) | 14 August 1973 | 16 September 1978 | 5 years, 33 days | | PPP | 1973 | |
| 6 | | Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq (1924–1988) | 16 September 1978 | 17 August 1988 † | 9 years, 336 days | | Pakistan Army | — | |
| 7 | | Ghulam Ishaq Khan (1915–2006) | 17 August 1988 | 18 July 1993 | 4 years, 335 days | | IND | 1988 | |
| — | | Wasim Sajjad (born 1941) acting | 18 July 1993 | 14 November 1993 | 119 days | | PMLN | – | |
| 8 | | Farooq Leghari (1940–2010) | 14 November 1993 | 2 December 1997 | 4 years, 18 days | | PPP | 1993 | |
| — | | Wasim Sajjad (born 1941) acting | 2 December 1997 | 1 January 1998 | 30 days | | PMLN | | |
| 9 | | Muhammad Rafiq Tarar (1929–2022) | 1 January 1998 | 20 June 2001 | 3 years, 170 days | | PMLN | 1997 | |
| 10 | | Pervez Musharraf (1943–2023) | 20 June 2001 | 15 October 2007 | 6 years, 117 days | | Military | 2004 | |
| 10 | | Pervez Musharraf (1943–2023) | 19 November 2007 | 18 August 2008 | 273 days | | PML(Q) | 2007 | |
| — | | Muhammad Mian Soomro (born 1950) acting | 18 August 2008 | 9 September 2008 | 22 days | | PML(Q) | – | |
| 11 | | Asif Ali Zardari (born 1955) | 9 September 2008 | 9 September 2013 | 5 years | | PPP | 2008 | |
| 12 | | Mamnoon Hussain (1940–2021) | 9 September 2013 | 9 September 2018 | 5 years | | PMLN | 2013 | |
| 13 | | Arif Alvi (born 1949) | 9 September 2018 | 10 March 2024 | 5 years, 183 days | | PTI | 2018 | |
| (11) | | Asif Ali Zardari (born 1955) | 10 March 2024 | Incumbent | 1 year, 4 days | | PPP | 2024 | |