New Pakistan captain Shan Masood looks poised for a big score after winning the toss and opting to bat, but the poor dismissal of opener Abdullah Shafique just before the break soured the tourists' mood.
Shafique lazily pushed a Mark Steketee delivery to short cover after making 38, leaving his side at 2-91 at lunch.
Anthony Albanese oversees the toss watched by captains Nathan McSweeney (l) and Shan Masood (r). (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)
South Australia speedster Jordan Buckingham removed the other opener Imam ul-Haq for nine, but Pakistan otherwise looked largely comfortable in their first hit-out on Australian soil.
Masood, who was handed the Test captaincy in the wake of Pakistan's World Cup exit last month, looked immediately comfortable in the nation's capital and played some glorious cut shots in his unbeaten 39.
Buckingham, who was only called into the side on Monday, struck in his first over with a peach to dismiss Imam, getting the ball to jag back off a length and find an inside edge through to keeper Jimmy Peirson.
He was the pick of the Australian bowlers with 1-23 off his seven overs, while Steketee took 1-21 off nine.
Star man Babar Azam (two not out) joined Masood at the crease shortly before lunch.
The battle to become Australia's next Test opener was put on hold when Masood won the toss and chose to bat.
The three-way 'bat-off' between Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw is set to highlight the Canberra clash, with each a contender to take David Warner's spot once the veteran opener retires this summer.
Bancroft, who tops the Sheffield Shield run-scoring stats for this season after finishing as best batter last term, will open for the PM's side with Harris, who's played 14 Tests for Australia.
Renshaw was selected earlier this year for the Test series in India, but has not opened for the national team since 2018.
Allrounder Cameron Green, looking to force his way past Mitchell Marsh and back into the Test side, will also be keen to rack up some runs against the tourists.
Pakistan named the same top six that played in their most recent Test, against Sri Lanka in July, but have unleashed uncapped bowling duo Aamer Jamal and Khurram Shahzad.
Star quick Shaheen Shah Afridi has been rested.
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