Prime Minister Imran Khan, during a cabinet meeting on Thursday, granted a license to Liberty Airlines Limited.

People received the news as a good omen that a new airline was going to start functioning in the country. In the meantime, a question might have crossed through the minds of several people that who is behind Liberty Airlines?

So if you are one of the curious minds, we assure you that you have landed on the right page!

Well, without keeping you awaited for much of the time, let me reveal that the man behind the initiative is Mian Amir Mehmood.

Who is Mian Amir Mehmood?

If this name didn’t click anything in your head, maybe Punjab Group of Colleges & Universities will?

He is the same guy who remained City Nazim of Lahore from 2001 to 2009, who also owns Allied School, Punjab Law College and Punjab College of Business Administration and University of Central Punjab.

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Mian Amir also owns one of the largest media groups in the country, Dunya Media Group, which is an umbrella company for two news networks (Dunya News & Lahore News) and an Urdu newspaper – Roznama Dunya.

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After ruling the education and media sector for decades, the successful business entrepreneur is now going to launch a private airline in the country. Mian Amir applied for a license last year and got the government’s nod just yesterday.

While the launching date for the airline is still unknown, what we know so far is that Liberty Airlines will be a chartered airline during the initial stages and Irfan Elahi will serve as a consultation head for the company.

Elahi resigned from the chairmanship of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in March 2018; he has also served as Federal Secretary Aviation Division.

While exclusively speaking with ProPakistani, Elahi confirmed the news.

“Yes, the airline is owned by Mian Amir Mehmood, and I will provide the consulting services for the airline,” Elahi said adding that they have not yet finalized the launching date.

This would not be the first airline in the country’s private sector. Currently, two private airlines – Air Blue and Serene Air – operating in the country. Sial Air also secured a license two years ago but hasn’t started operations yet.

On the other hand, Shaheen Air International, which was previously owned by the Pakistan Air Force and was later sold out to famous businessman Khalid Sehbai, is grounded due to a financial crisis with remedial work in process.

Previously, Bhoja Air and Hajvairy Airlines have also operated in the Pakistani airspace. However, Bhoja Air stopped operations after a deadly air crash whereas Hajvairy Airlines discontinued after a financial crunch.