PAF suspends “Air Force Development Plan 2025,” says report
ISLAMABAD: Due to financial constraints and non release of funds by the federal government, the Pakistan Air force (PAF) has suspended its up gradation and development plan called “Air Force Development Plan 2025,” says a report of the Senate’s standing committee on defence Thursday.
The committee quoted Air Chief marshal Tahir Rafique in its report, who, it said, told the committee members during its recent visit to the air headquarters that the AFDP 2025 programme was launched in 2003/04 by former president Pervez Musharraf aimed at making it at par with modern air forces of the world.
He said under the plan, the PAF received money by the federal government till 2007.
“After 2007 PAF did not get a penny from federal government and had to shelve the plan,” the air chief was quoted as saying in the report by its Chairman Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed.
The report further said that due to suspension of the development plan, PAF had to close number of projects which have affected the overall up gradation in the country including air bases, jets and other facilities.
The report also quoted air chief as saying that the PAF was also not given full share in the defence budget and it received only 60 per cent of the whole budget allocated for PAF.
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Comments (48) Closed
May 30, 2013 10:36pm
Good !
Let us 'upgrade' more schools, hospitals, roads and our power infrastructure before we get on to upgrading these useless planes and radars that didn't notice a fleet of US helicopters and C130s on May 11 last year whilst taking Osama out !
Let's invest to better the lives of 180 million hapless souls !!
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May 30, 2013 10:41pm
Like is aid before, with friends like the ones Pakistan has, who needs enemies......keep it up and much like the power sector, pretty soon the armed forces will also be going the IPP way.....we will be left with nuclear missles pointed at enemies on our borders....with no artillery, no planes, and open to the enemy taking out those missles form a distance....well done Pakistan!.
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May 30, 2013 10:45pm
Hard times ahead..........no more golf courses.
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May 30, 2013 11:10pm
That was exactly the purpose of bringing the zardari gang into power. Their masters knew their extreme greed and bloody criminal nature. On top the masters included some moles in this gang. The enemy achieved its goal of destroying our institutions, blocking progress and modernization of armed forces, and crippling our economy. These criminal rulers of last five years must be brought to accountability under treason charges.
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May 30, 2013 11:29pm
This is not only concerning but alarming.
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May 30, 2013 11:50pm
Development for what? Bombing own people. Its no more the PAF of Nur Khan or Asghar Khan. Things had changed ages ago.
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May 31, 2013 12:05am
Nice going zardari
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May 31, 2013 01:01am
For the defense of the country the fund allotted should have been given to PAF. PAF is eyes and ears of Pakistan.
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May 31, 2013 01:04am
Pakistan's traditional enemy is upgrading its air force by seeking the most advanced hardware from Russia, Europe, and now the United States, so policymakers in Islamabad can ill afford not to equip the air force with modern technology.
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May 31, 2013 01:08am
Good.Feed the hungry and solve the energy problem first and don't manufacture any threats of Indian invasion.
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May 31, 2013 01:39am
Zardari and company have ruined the economy and defence. We are more vulnerable today against the internal and external enemies. Can Nawaz salvage and build up the economy and solve the economy and defence of Pakistan. I really hope so. If not, we may see an end of democracy because of its democrats who have exposed themselves as corrupt and incompetents.
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May 31, 2013 01:48am
Well God have mercy on us, still effort should be done to safeguard our self from enemies known and unknown. At last bravo for our great political leaders for leading us into such a great and prosperous way and not diverting from our righteous destination. BLAH......
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May 31, 2013 02:06am
OK - for 3 years they got the funding, what did they do with that money? Is that in the report?
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May 31, 2013 02:10am
Good going, Pakistan loving politicians have done it. They have filled up their banks in foreign countries, but no money for PAF. On the other hand this is a lesson for all those who are involved in purchasing and developing these planes and Plans as well. They should seek a superior Air Force for Pakistan, not commissions for them. Some one needs to follow Indian Example. Any one involved in getting commissions on those deals have been severely punished. What have we done...?. There are many example of those corrupts that take money on commissions. I know how and where they get this money from.
We just need to expose these dirty sheep in front of people of Pakistan. Once we clean our country from these blood suckers, there will be enough money for our Air force.
Long Live Pakistan and Pakistan Air Force.
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May 31, 2013 02:39am
Pakistan is not having any threat from India which wants to have peaceful co-existence with Pakistan.Several successive Indian Prime Ministers have expressed this,time and again.The real threat is from the Talibans,extremists and the Fundamentalists.Some of the money meant for PAF expansion could be diverted in building of Infrastructure namely Power Projects,Health care,Education,Water Supply&Sanitation.
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May 31, 2013 02:56am
At this point in Pakistan's history this is a smart prudent decision. The biggest threat to Pakistan is from within not external. Use the money instead to solve people's problems and improve the quality of life for the citizens. The army and navy should also review and reduce their budgets.
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May 31, 2013 02:56am
@gangadin:
you're right, the four PAK-india wars were just our imagination. Thanks for wakin us up from the matrix
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May 31, 2013 03:03am
No money after 2007 because it was used to 'upgrade' Zardari and Co.
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May 31, 2013 03:27am
How could we let down the world best AIR FORCE. Because of superiority of PAF ,Indians won't dare to start any adventure. Nation should stand up and bring the corrupt politician's hidden wealth overseas to Pakistan to pay the Armed Forces.
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May 31, 2013 04:05am
We are surviving a very tough situation since we were defence focussed. This is indeed a challenge thrown by our enemy. No need for an another 180 degree turn. Just be more business oriented increase GDP increase public spending more and hence further increase on defence.
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May 31, 2013 04:29am
Need to find a healthy way to allot funds as the air force is a critical component of our defense. With the need to continually modernize to keep pace with changing developments and the continue d use of drones to not provide funds would be detrimental as well.
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May 31, 2013 04:30am
@gangadin:
If you meant india imperialism than Sri Lanka, Bhutan, ....... no one should be worried right?
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May 31, 2013 04:30am
may god have mercy on pakistan since any ways it is on the mercy of its aggressors now.
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May 31, 2013 04:45am
Democrazy is the best revenge !! Hence Proved.
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May 31, 2013 04:58am
i think PAF do need those funds and it should be priotized. but during last decade or so all of the bad political decision cost the country its pride, economy and its civilians lifes. but good thing is that all the bad thing that happen thanks to freedom in media people know whats going on to some extent and which will force the govt to change.
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May 31, 2013 05:25am
@gangadin:
how about you indians tell your pot-belied generals not to issue threats and "Cold start doctrines" first? Either way, PAF has already demonstrated that Pakistani skies are not friendly for indian aircrafts or indians in general. Stay on your side of the fence, we'll return the favour
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May 31, 2013 05:49am
That seems to be good news - first provide basic necessities to common people.
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May 31, 2013 05:56am
This is the most stupid press release on the planet. Thank you PAF for telling the world that you are not upgrading!
Then again--is it a tactic to throw off the enemies!
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May 31, 2013 06:13am
It is a shame!! Our politicians should give our nation a break and stop sneaking out the nations wealth to foreign accounts. After all how many Surray Mahals and Raiwind Palace do they want to build?
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May 31, 2013 07:22am
Well done people of Pakistan. Once again you proved that we don't need external forces to destroy our nation.... we are more than enough to destroy our nation.... I am sure Indian are not bothered at all by any threat whatsoever by the Pakistan because they know we don't need them to destroy our nation, our people are fully capable to destroy our nation.... and those who stand in a way of our destruction we will call them dictators, western agents etc etc..
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May 31, 2013 07:24am
@SAL:
Yes just like they were deaf and blind when USA took out Osama. Full marks for observation
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May 31, 2013 08:02am
@SAL:
Yes PAF is important but at what cost..Not if we have to snatch food from hungry children and deprive them of quality education and health
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May 31, 2013 08:35am
Just shows the difference between the Musharraf era and now. Gen Musharraf was concerned about Pakistan's futre safety and had a vision. Now we can see the end of it.
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May 31, 2013 08:50am
Our radars supposedly can't detect US choppers. We don't/can't shoot down/chase US drones. When the Indian Air Force's jet violated Pakistani airspace, WE announced that it was just a mistake.
What happened to our sovereignty? Why do we need the air force again? What did the Air Force do with the 75% budget that was allocated?
Oh that's right, they just watched foreign aircraft/drones/choppers invade our territory, trample our sovereignty and (mostly) kill our innocent civilians.
Bravado.
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May 31, 2013 09:11am
Musharraf was the right man with right vision. He took each and every decision in the first interest of Pakistan. 9 years without any corruption scandals, awesome. He invested in defense, education, health, brought foreign investment, media, telecom sector so and so.
Being a UETian, i remember that university has stopped getting any funds from Federal after 2008 and Govt has asked uni to increase the fees from 6000 to 45000 which was really not possible for the students studying in Govt universities. So, i saw a really hard time in uni after 2008.
Dont worry, expect the same thing from PMLN Govt, they are the right hand of PPP and having a politics of MUKK MUKKAA.
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May 31, 2013 09:52am
it is a great news for the indians
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May 31, 2013 09:59am
It is abundantly clear, the Chairman on Standing Committee on Defense has recommended to the GOP to position one million villagers armed with ghulails to catapult stones and pebbles at the invading aircraft. Salams
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May 31, 2013 10:05am
Gangadin......will you also practice what you preach?
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May 31, 2013 10:09am
@Baba:
Amount should be recovered from Zardari and his PPP, MQM partners.
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May 31, 2013 10:41am
This is good news. We don't need to spend any more money on air force when they can't even protect their land and citizens against drone attacks. Instead money should be spent on infrastructure.
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May 31, 2013 10:57am
Dear Pak brothers.....
Pls. push the govt of Pakistan to resolve the problem of Electricity, poverty of the peoples in pakistan.
In the same manner, we Indians must push govt not to consider any non productive actions which can affect the poor peoples..
any issues can be settled by dialogue.
All humans must change the attitude towards each other country to ensure peace and prosperity...
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May 31, 2013 11:00am
Next is the navy
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May 31, 2013 11:12am
Its shame that PAF had to abandon Air Force Development Plan for lack of funds. I wish we had not spent all that money on the personal security and other perks given to 'leaders' of Pakistan. A big chunk of money could have been saved by throwing these 'leaders in front of those who wanted them'.
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May 31, 2013 11:22am
it showing the bad governance of PPP Govt ,Now new Govt should focus to resolve PAF Fund Problems
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Jun 01, 2013 03:28am
New would be worst than PPP, its would be total disaster...
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Jun 02, 2013 12:10am
@Arslan Khan:
The is the fact that 40% of the budget has apparently disappeared. This corruption BS cannot be allowed to go unpunished!
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Jun 02, 2013 11:03am
every department has suffered because of the ppp government
good work people keep bringing incompetent to power they will definitely take you back to the 13century
if you wanna go then elect these people dont stop dragging us down with you
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Jun 02, 2013 02:53pm
Good move..invest money in infra, power and education. Mushraf wasted money in defense when no external challenge.
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