Engineer Muhammad Ishaq Khattak was born on 4 March 1944, in Dag Ismail Kheil, Pabbi, Nowshera.
Before entering Politics in 2001, Khattak started his early career and joined Military Engineering Services Pakistan working on projects in collaboration with Swissboring Overseas Co. Ltd.
In 1971 he worked as an Assistant Executive Engineer at Quaid-i-Azam University campus Islamabad planned and designed by Edward Durell Stone.
In the above-mentioned capacities of engineering cadre he planned, executed projects, engaged consultants, invited comparative tendering, finalized reports and conditions of awards.
Even though this was a private institute, Khattak and his wife awarded hundreds of free school placements to Afghan refugees and students from lower socio-economic groups over a period of 19 years.