Pakistan's nationwide parliamentary elections are set to be held on May 11.
Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that the president had approved a proposal finalizing the date for the vote.
A parliamentary committee must select a caretaker prime minister to run the government by March 22.
The election would mark the first time that one civilian government has handed over power to another in the country's 66 years of existence.
Pakistan has a history of military takeovers.
There have been three military coups and four military rulers since partition from India and the end of British rule in 1947.
Attacks by Taliban militants and violence against the country's Shi'ite Muslim population have raised fears about security surrounding the vote.
Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that the president had approved a proposal finalizing the date for the vote.
A parliamentary committee must select a caretaker prime minister to run the government by March 22.
The election would mark the first time that one civilian government has handed over power to another in the country's 66 years of existence.
Pakistan has a history of military takeovers.
There have been three military coups and four military rulers since partition from India and the end of British rule in 1947.
Attacks by Taliban militants and violence against the country's Shi'ite Muslim population have raised fears about security surrounding the vote.
