It is foolish to say that Pakistan should start it's own fighter plane program without any external help. The only country Pakistan ever collaborates with is China. India tried developing the LCA on it's own and the thing is still not finished. Pakistan worked with China to develop the JF-17, and we already have operational squadron of the bird.
The analogy here is of trying to learn calculus on your own vs learning it with the help of a tutor. You still learn just as much, if not more, and in quicker time when you have help from a more experienced coach. I am sure Pakistan has learnt a lot from working on the JF-17 project with China, and there is no need for Pakistan to waste it's resources on R&D just yet.
The relationship between Pakistan and China is unlike the relationship between India and any of it's allies. We know China will not backstab us, we know that China will remain our number 1 ally far into the future, so depending somewhat on China to help out with the more costly side of a fighter plane program is a smart thing to do.
Btw, Lockheed is about to turn the most beautiful fighter plane in the world to the ugliest.