F-16's induction iin 80's was right decision but after sanction paf lost 15 year to order new high end fighter..
in early 20's 72 jets were planned and were divided in 36 for western jet and 36 for eastern jet.. if paf had ordered rafale that would be 36 jets not like 18 f-16.. and the other advantage for rafale induction was the weapon and avionic packages for JF-17 which now paf is begging to get avionic and weapon packages for JF-17..
15 years weren't lost.
PAF spent money and time in manufacturing an aircraft and that's where most of the funds went. Before this PAF would have funds available to buy anything off the shelf but things changed after 1990's.
Firstly staring in 90's, Most of the available funds went into sabre II project which eventually became JF-17.
Secondly,After that PAF went for 2 different types of AWACS and air refuellers. This was not 80's or pre 80's that force multipliers could be ignored. This required funds.
Thirdly, funds have also been allocated towards manufacturing 66 JF-17 so far. More different kinds of weapons were bought for JF-17.
Fourthly, JF-17 project is still continuing and funds are engaged in design and production work for Block -3.
its hard to imagine any funds left to buy 36 Rafale aircrafts, including related weaponry and other support equipment. It's costing Qatar 7 billion USD for 24 Rafale .
If PAF gets into J-31 project or acquisition, this would again require funds and there won't be any spare funds to buy a new aircraft.
India can start a manufacturing project ( Tejas ) and acquire aircrafts ( SU-30 etc )side by side, and it did. Pakistan has to compromise somewhere.
As for avionics and weapons package for JF-17, PAF found Chinese avionics comparable to western and decided to incorporate that in JF-17.
I think RC-400 is french and was being chosen. It's still not AESA.
KLJ 7 is doing the same job. I don't think PAF is begging anyone, PAF is satisfied with Chinese hardware and wants to incorporate Chinese AESA in block 3.
J-31 can help more in induction and weapons suite for JF-17 than Rafale, it's a generation ahead.
I'm going to repeat myself about 5 billion USD package for 18 new F-16's. it wasn't just 18 aircraft, PAF modernised the whole F-16 fleet under this package and brought them at almost same level , well 90% same. That's 18 + 32 = 50 with related weaponry. I'm not sure if option of another 18 block 52 is covered in it or not.