GUJRAT: The Punjab government on Thursday transferred Gujrat Deputy Commissioner (DC) Safdar Hussain Virk and handed over additional charge of the post to Gujranwala DC Naveed Ahmed.

According to a notification issued by the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD), the Punjab government also allowed a two-week ex-Pakistan leave to Mr Virk from June 16 to 30.

Official sources said he had applied for a two-month leave, including the two-week ex-Pakistan leave, however he was only allowed the ex-Pakistan leave. During the leave, Mr Vrik will visit Portugal and Italy as per the notification of the Punjab government.

Mr Vrik, a grade 19 officer in the Provincial Management Service, is also due to join the public policy and governance course at Management and Professional Development Department, Lahore, for promotion to the next grade. The course he has already missed thrice in the pasty will start by mid July.

Mr Virk is among a handful of DCs in Punjab who was posted by the caretaker Punjab government headed by Mohsin Naqvi in February 2023.

He was also the district returning officer of Gujrat in the Feb 8, 2024, general elections.

Gujranwala Commissioner Naveed Haider Shirazi is also among the officers posted in February 2023.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2025