PAF Takes Over Punjab Gulfstream Jet
The Punjab government has handed operational control and maintenance of the Punjab Gulfstream jet to the Pakistan Air Force, after its own VIP Flight Wing found it could not run the aircraft alone. The provincial cabinet has approved the transfer, along with a draft agreement covering maintenance, technical matters and financial arrangements.
The jet, bought for around Rs10 billion, drew criticism when reports of its price surfaced. It reached Lahore on December 28, 2025, and made its first domestic flight from Lahore to Multan on February 6, 2026. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz recently used it for a trip to London.
Why the PAF is taking over the Punjab Gulfstream jet
Official documents state that the Punjab VIP Flight Wing lacked the in-house capacity to operate and maintain the advanced jet. The aircraft needs specialised expertise, trained engineers and modern maintenance facilities, which the air force already has.
Under the arrangement, the jet has been deregistered from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and given a PAF tail number. Three serving air force pilots have been deputed to the Punjab government and are flying the aircraft alongside provincial pilots. The Additional Secretary (Welfare) of the Services and General Administration Department has been authorised to sign the agreement for Punjab.
The Punjab government believes the transfer will ensure safe flights, continuous readiness and round-the-clock availability of the aircraft. It has not yet disclosed how much it will pay the air force under the new arrangement.
A purchase that drew criticism
The roughly seven-year-old Gulfstream G500 drew criticism when reports of its Rs10 billion price tag surfaced. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said at the time that the aircraft was part of a fleet being built for Air Punjab, the province’s planned airline.
In February 2026, the Punjab government approved a supplementary grant of more than Rs861.5 million to support the jet’s operations. The cost of running a long-range business jet, with crew, maintenance and hangarage, is high, and the province’s own flight wing was not set up to carry it.
The handover is not the first time a government aircraft deal has raised questions about cost. The Economic Coordination Committee approved Rs1.09 billion for a Lineage executive jet for the Pakistan Army earlier this month, a decision that also drew attention to official spending on aircraft.
What changes now
The aircraft now carries a military tail number and sits outside the civil register. Its day-to-day flying will be handled by air force pilots working with the province’s own pilots, while the air force takes charge of maintenance.
For the Punjab government, the move solves a practical problem. It keeps the jet flying without building a full maintenance set-up of its own. For the air force, it adds a VIP transport task to its existing work. The air force has been building defence ties abroad, including a recent cooperation agreement with Uzbekistan.
The unanswered question is cost. The province has not said what it will pay the air force, and the draft agreement’s financial terms have not been made public. Until they are, the jet’s running costs will remain a point of debate. Punjab’s government has been announcing welfare spending at the same time, including marriage assistance for daughters of low-income families and new road links such as the Lillah-Jhelum dual carriageway.
Frequently asked questions
Why has the Punjab government handed its jet to the PAF?
Its VIP Flight Wing lacked the specialised engineers, facilities and expertise to operate and maintain the Gulfstream G500 on its own. The air force already has them.
Who will fly the jet now?
Three serving PAF pilots have been deputed to the Punjab government and are flying the aircraft alongside provincial pilots.
What has happened to the jet’s registration?
It has been deregistered from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and given a PAF tail number.
How much did the jet cost?
Reports put the purchase price at around Rs10 billion. The jet is roughly seven years old and arrived in Lahore in December 2025.
How much will Punjab pay the PAF?
That has not been disclosed. The draft agreement covers financial arrangements, but the province has not published the figures.
