Nope, There is no other way. Pakistan(like India, BD, UK) follows a planning principle by its air staff. Something put into what is called an Air Staff Requirement. Till 2008.. the requiremnt included a mainstay air defence fighter and light strike support to replace the role of the F-7 and Mirage fleet.. that is known as the JF-17 and there was a requirement for 150 of these. The next requirement was the primary air interdiction and offensive counter air fighter to carry out the critical punches and strikes.. that is the F-16.. and there was a requirement for 60 of these. Finally , there was the air superiority, deep strike element.. that was to be the FC-20.At the light end for local interceptions was to be the F-7PG while the last ROSE-III Mirages would soldier one further(as they brilliant night attack birds)
Now with the economy going bust.. and money short.. the PAF decided that since the role envisaged for the FC-20 could be covered to most extents by the F-16s.. it might as well junk the idea and wait for a better option.. in the meantime.. it decided to increase the F-16 fleet to 80 aircraft... while going for an overall force reduction. Any actual war with India seems to not be in the cards and at most border skirmishes or a one day "battle" might be the order. Unless economic times improved, the PAF found itself happy with a planned size of 300 combat aircraft.
So any other demeaning reason that some of our Indian friends could come up with is invalid here. Quite simply, the PAF has been flying the F-16 for over 30 years. It knows EXACTLY how to use it, how to fix it and how to fly and fight with it in the most effective manner in its requirement. The timeframe for the PAF to learn on new F-16s is 1/20th the time it would take to learn on a new fighter such as the J-10. So when you are saving on costs in every sphere.. while still getting a very potent system. Its dumb not to go for it.