Both will compete at the Olympics for the first time.

“We think it’s a huge honour to be named the flagbearers for the opening ceremony,” the pair told Pakistan's Daily Times. 

“This is a big moment in our career, and it is also a huge moment for shooting and badminton.

“It would be added motivation for us. 

“We are looking forward to the responsibility at the opening ceremony in Tokyo.”

It is the first time that Pakistan will have had joint flagbearers at the ceremony, a decision taken to follow an International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommendation on gender equality.

37-year-old Akhtar, a recipient of an Olympic scholarship, sealed direct qualification at the 2019 International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup in Rio where he finished sixth in the 25 metres rapid fire pistol. 

He is listed to compete in qualification during the second week of the Games.

Mahoor received an Olympic Tripartite commission invitation to compete and is set to become the first Pakistani woman to compete in an Olympic badminton tournament.

She will face a testing first-round match on the first full morning of the Games less than 24 hours after the opening ceremony against 2018 Uber Cup winner and Asian Games gold medallist Akane Yamaguchi of Japan

Akhtar and Mahoor lead a team of ten with other team members competing in athletics, judo, swimming and weightlifting.

Pakistan has not won an Olympic medal since its hockey team won bronze in 1992.