Punjab Hands Gulfstream G500 Jet Operations to Pakistan Air Force

The Punjab government has approved handing over operational control and maintenance of its Gulfstream G500 luxury jet to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), after the provincial VIP Flight Wing was found unable to manage the aircraft on its own. The provincial cabinet endorsed the transfer along with a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the PAF that covers maintenance, technical matters and financial arrangements.

According to the documents, the Punjab VIP Flight Wing lacked the in-house capacity to operate and maintain the advanced jet. The aircraft requires specialised expertise, trained engineers and modern maintenance facilities, capabilities that the PAF already possesses. The provincial government expects the arrangement to ensure safe flights, continuous readiness and round-the-clock availability of the aircraft.

The jet was procured for approximately Rs10 billion, a price tag that drew public criticism when reports of the cost first surfaced. The aircraft, roughly seven years old, arrived in 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 the jet for a trip to London.

The Punjab government has not yet disclosed how much it will pay the PAF under the new arrangement. The draft MoU is expected to set out the terms of the financial and technical relationship between the province and the air force, though officials have not shared further details on the cost structure or the duration of the agreement.

The decision places the province's most expensive aircraft under military management, reflecting the specialised support required to keep a modern business jet airworthy. Further details on the agreement are expected once the MoU is finalised between the Punjab government and the Pakistan Air Force.