Punjab Hands Gulfstream G-500 Jet to Pakistan Air ForcePakistan

According to the documents, technical difficulties arose in maintaining and operating the modern jet because the Punjab government’s VIP Flight Wing has limited technical capacity. Operating its advanced systems requires specialised expertise, trained personnel and modern infrastructure, which the documents say the PAF has.

The aircraft has been deregistered with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, and the PAF has allotted it a tail number, according to the documents. Three serving PAF pilots have been placed at the Punjab government’s disposal on deputation and are conducting flight operations with provincial pilots.

The jet was previously registered in the United States as N144S and was reported to have cost around Rs9–10 billion. It came under public scrutiny after it was used for Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s trip to London, with critics questioning the purchase and the provincial government defending it as part of its plans for a provincial airline fleet, Air Punjab.

Under the new arrangement, the PAF will take responsibility for the aircraft’s day-to-day operations and upkeep. The deputation of the three PAF pilots is intended to ensure that flights continue without interruption during the transition.

Officials say the move will address the technical gaps in the VIP Flight Wing, which does not have the specialist staff or facilities needed to maintain a modern aircraft of this type. The PAF, which operates a large fleet of military aircraft, has the engineering and training infrastructure to support it, according to the documents.

The approval of the draft MoU marks the formal step in the transfer. Once signed, the agreement will define the responsibilities of both sides, including maintenance schedules, flight operations and the terms of the pilots’ deputation.

The Punjab government has previously said the aircraft is part of its broader plan to establish a provincial airline. The handover to the PAF is presented in the documents as a practical step to keep the aircraft operational while the province builds its aviation plans.

The decision comes amid continued debate over the purchase of the jet, with opposition parties raising questions about its cost and use. The provincial government has maintained that the aircraft will serve the province’s aviation needs and that its operations are being handled through proper channels.