LAHORE (Kashmir English): The Punjab government has decided to hand over the operational control, repair, and maintenance of its official Gulfstream G-500 aircraft to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) following technical difficulties faced by the provincial government’s VIP Flight Wing.
According to official documents, the Punjab government’s technical capacity was insufficient to independently manage the modern aircraft, which requires specialised expertise, trained personnel, and advanced technical infrastructure.
The documents state that the aircraft has been deregistered from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), while the Pakistan Air Force has allotted a new tail number to it.
Three serving PAF pilots have also been deputed to the Punjab government to operate the Gulfstream G-500 alongside provincial government pilots.
The Pakistan Air Force has the required technical expertise, trained personnel, and infrastructure to maintain the aircraft and ensure its operational readiness.
Following consultations, the Punjab cabinet approved the proposal to transfer the aircraft’s operational control and maintenance responsibilities to the PAF to ensure flight safety and uninterrupted availability.
The cabinet also approved a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Punjab government and the Pakistan Air Force, covering aircraft maintenance, technical matters and financial arrangements.
According to the documents, the Additional Secretary Welfare, Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD), has been authorised to sign the MoU on behalf of the Punjab government.
