The Jets still carry or are capable of carrying sufficient variety of weapons , which makes them useful
in Air Combat
Only reasonable retirement talk would have to come once we induct 150 J10B or J11 Fighters into Pakistani airforce
F-7 is a very nimble agile platform as well , the agility and nimbleness adds to dynamics in air vs Larger bulkier jets
This appears to be a good answer by User "Strongpa" which appears in inner pages
F-7 PG is a very economical solution right now for PAF.
It is a greatly improved F-7, some say the best variant of Mig-21 ever.
Here is the impression of Air Cdr Kaiser Tufail after he evaluated F-7 PG
Pakistan Military Consortium :: www.PakDef.info
Evaluation showed that with respect to F-7P, F-7PG had a
35% imporvement in take-off distance
33% improvement in turn rate at 5000 feet
50% improvement in in turn rate at 10000 feet
66% improvement in turn rate at 20000 feet.
At least 25-33% reduction in the safe speed required for low speed loop...likely to be even better at lower altitudes.
In fact turn rate at med to high altitudes is close to F-16.
Lower speeds required for landing.
Glide ratio of 1:8.5 compares favorably with some modern fighters
50% improvement in spool up time
25% improvement in time for acceleration (500Km/h to 1100Km/h) and climb speed.
This article seems to agree that F-7PG's close combat capability is very close to that of F-16. In chinese simulations, it has also beaten SU-27 in close combat
F-7PG uses Grifo-7PG RADAR which has a little more range than the Grifo 7, plus some other technological advancements.
The F-7PG is capable of firing :
AIM-9P (Side Winders)
AIM-9L
PL-9C (Infra Red Homing Missiles)
PAF initially ordered 46 single seater and 9 trainers. They were so impressed with its capabilities that later they ordered another 11 single seaters
Airforce Representative talks about the modifications on the plane direct from source