Pakistan is expected to acquire these aircraft in phases. The initial order will likely consist of 18 J-31/35 jets, with an option to purchase an additional 18. Over the next decade, the total number of aircraft could reach approximately 72.
It might be a controversial take, but I still believe that Pakistan doesn't need to make such an investment which it can't hold for long. PAF is already procuring J-10Cs and has plans for indigenous JF-17 variant, why take on another new platform in such a haste? Do we have any deficiency in our current platforms that they can't match India's front-line jets? PAF has repeatedly said that J-10Cs can match anything IAF fields today. J-31 is an overkill by PAF's own standards.
Besides, J-31 is an export variant from China. F-7PG was the last platform that PAF got from China which was at par with what PLAAF fielded at that time. After that, most of the procurements by Pakistan has been export variants from China. Of course, they come with easy-to-get loans, but the resources have to be paid, albeit over time. And we cannot forget the eventual examples, like ZDK-3, of such export becoming quickly irrelevant.
I believe that PAF planners should now look for partnerships rather than off the shelf purchases. Türkiye's KAAN is a promising project. It might take time but if PAF partners with Türkiye, it will get a firsthand product rather than a watered-down version (J-31) and not to mention that such partnerships open up the technology options for PAF beyond China which will be helpful in ongoing projects and well as future projects. And finally, looking at IAF's response to China, they don't seem to be making any drastic progress to induct a 5th generation platform. But with Pakistan and China both fielding 5th Gen, IAF might be pushed for induction of a 5th Gen platform, Given India doesn't have financial constraints like Pakistan. And I'm sure that J-31 will be sufficient excuse for the US to offer JSF to IAF for "countering the regional balance of power".
J-31 is an advantage that can't be sustained for long. So if resources are to be put in such a venture, this should involve technology and manufacturing partnership rather than off the shelf buying.