The Pakistan Air Force Museum was established in 1990 under the supervision of Air Commodore (retired) Usman Ghani, who oversaw the renovation of the old British-era hangar and developed the barren land surrounding it. What began as a modest effort to house a few retired aircraft evolved over the next decade into a significant tourist destination. Between 1999 and 2004, the museum underwent major expansion, adding children's play areas, rides, and eateries that transformed it from a niche military exhibit into a family attraction. The museum sits near the Karsaz Flyover, making it easily accessible from Karachi's major thoroughfares.

More than 50 aircraft fill the museum's grounds and hangars, each with its own story. Among the most notable exhibits is a captured Indian Folland Gnat from the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War, a compact fighter that sits in the gallery as a trophy of aerial combat. Dassault Mirage IIIs and Shenyang F-6s represent the backbone of the PAF's Cold War-era fleet, aircraft that flew in conflicts spanning decades. A model of the Martin B-57 Canberra bomber shares space with the 30mm cannon that armed the F-6. An Auster Aiglet, a light observation aircraft long since retired from service, offers a quieter counterpoint to the jet fighters surrounding it. Radars and missiles round out the collection.

What makes the PAF Museum more than a collection of hardware is the archival gallery inside, where photographs, documents, and memorabilia trace the air force's history from its founding to the present day. Japanese sailors have visited on goodwill tours. Families come on Defence Day to remember sacrifices. Artists have found inspiration here too -- as one observer noted, when a soldier picks up brushes, art happens. The museum stands as both a record of Pakistan's military aviation heritage and a gathering place where that heritage meets the ordinary rhythms of Karachi life: children on playground rides, families sharing meals, veterans pausing before machines they once flew.