ISLAMABAD, Oct 27: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) lost 31 fighter aircraft during the last four years in what the government has said were "normal operational missions" within the country.

The record placed before the Senate by the defence ministry on Wednesday showed nine aircraft had crashed in 2001, followed by a similar number in 2002. The number of aircraft casualties was seven in 2003.

The record also showed that seven pilots had lost their lives in the air crashes while four had received injuries from 2000 till 2003.

According to the data, the PAF lost fighter aircraft worth millions of dollars, including Mirage, F-7 and A-5.

The defence ministry informed the Senate that the property destroyed by A-5, F-7 and Mirage aircraft in Kohat, Peshawar, Chakwal and Karachi was compensated in financial terms.

The property damaged by Mirage aircraft in Karachi's Malir Cantt in 2003 was compensated with Rs2.9 million, and the property damaged by another Mirage aircraft in Karachi during 2003 was compensated with Rs5,000.

In 2002, the sugarcane crop damaged by F-7 aircraft in Karachi was compensated with Rs5,000.

In 2001, the property damaged by A-5 aircraft in Peshawar was compensated with Rs18,000. The property damaged by F-7 in Mianwali was compensated with Rs16,000.

In 2000, the property destroyed by A-5 aircraft in Kohat was compensated with Rs20,000 while animal injury with Rs16,000.

The defence ministry said inquiries were conducted in all 31 air crashes and the recommendations had been implemented in each case.

On the technical side, it said, design deficiencies in various systems had been pointed out and the original equipment manufacturers had been approached for their specialist comments to undertake the remedial measures.