Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a standard loaf pan and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, cardamom, and salt until evenly combined.
In a separate bowl, stir together the pumpkin puree, vegetable oil, and eggs until smooth and slightly frothy.
Gradually pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients, gently folding with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix; the batter should be a bit lumpy.
Stir in the orange zest and chopped pecans evenly into the batter for added flavor and crunch.
Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top with a spatula for an even surface.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is golden brown.
Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once cooled, slice the bread to reveal a moist crumb dotted with pecans and flecks of orange zest.