The Punjab cabinet approved transferring operational control and maintenance of its Gulfstream G-500 jet to the Pakistan Air Force. According to inside reports, the decision stems from the Punjab government’s VIP Flight Wing lacking the technical capability to operate the aircraft independently.
The jet requires specialized expertise that the provincial flight wing does not possess. Documents state that the Gulfstream’s advanced and complex systems demand specialized technical skills, trained personnel, and modern facilities for safe operation and maintenance.
The Pakistan Air Force already has all three. Along with the operational transfer, the cabinet approved de-registering the aircraft from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) and assigning it a PAF tail number instead. An MoU draft between the Punjab government and PAF also received approval, with the Additional Secretary (Welfare) of the Services and General Administration Department authorized to sign on Punjab’s behalf.
Three serving PAF pilots have already been deputed to the Punjab government on assignment. These pilots will work alongside the provincial government’s existing crew to handle flight operations. The stated objective is ensuring safe flight operations, continuous readiness, and round-the-clock availability of the aircraft.
The Gulfstream G-500 has remained a source of political controversy since its acquisition. The Punjab government purchased the 2019-manufactured jet for an estimated PKR 10 billion (approximately $38-42 million). It arrived in Lahore on December 28, 2025 and completed its first domestic flight to Multan on February 6, 2026.
In September, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz faced intense criticism for using the jet to fly to London for her daughter’s graduation ceremony. She defended the trip by saying the aircraft belongs to the CM office and is not her personal property. She also claimed she paid PKR 2.75 crore for the London trip from her own pocket.
The aircraft’s operating costs remain substantial. In February, the Punjab government approved a supplementary grant of Rs86.15 crore to cover fuel, maintenance, insurance, and mandatory pilot and engineer training in the United States. The jet consumes approximately 2,100 liters of fuel per hour, roughly double the consumption of the Hawker 400XP it replaced. That older aircraft also remains operational.
When reports of the purchase first surfaced, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari described the jet as part of a broader “Air Punjab” fleet plan. She said some aircraft would be purchased and others leased for the proposed provincial airline. However, the jet has primarily served as a VIP transport aircraft since its arrival. The Punjab government did not comment on the latest cabinet decision.
