ISLAMABAD, Nov 12: The government on Monday granted three years’ extension to Abdullah Yousuf as chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) just three days ahead of the completion of the current democratic government.

This means that the tax machinery will have the same head till November 2010, who was to attain the age of superannuation in March 2008 — a period which is mandatory for retirement from the government service.

An accountant by profession, Mr Yousuf served as Finance and Managing Director of the Utility Stores Corporation, as secretary in Board of Investment, Ministry of Industry and Privatisation Commission. Prior to assuming his current post in 2004, he served for five years as Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources.

An official told Dawn that Mr Yousuf had been inducted into unified regular cadre of secretariat group in BPS-22 in 2006. He was subsequently declared the senior most federal secretary followed by his elevation to the post of secretary general.

This means that he is now the only secretary general in the federal government as the previous one in the finance ministry has already been appointed as chairman of the National Accountability Bureau.

Apparently, the extension in tenure of the chairman was the outcome of his personal connection in the presidency.

An official source in the FBR said that the extension had been given in line to ensure the continuity in the World Bank funded reforms project of the tax administration, which was expected to be completed by 2009.