Among his non-profit work, he is a trustee of Sindh Institute of Urology & Transplantation (SIUT) and member of Boards of Governors of Liaquat National Hospital and Karachi School of Business and Leadership (KSBL).

Syed Shabbar Zaidi has also authored several books, including Panama Leaks – A Blessing in Disguise – Offshore Assets of Pakistani Citizens, A Journey for Clarity and Pakistan: Not a Failed State.

Prior to coming into government, Khan criticised tax amnesties, saying they were used to "fool the honest people of the country and encourage corrupt elements to plunder and amass wealth, only to whitewash it later on”.

In a 2023 interview on Geo News' Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath program he alleged that "40 MNAs from the PTI, PPP and PML-N, led by the then foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, visited his office" and asked for him to withdraw a tax notice he issued on a landowner in Multan.

Zaidi also alleged that then Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa on call told him to lower Defence Housing Authority (DHA) real estate valuations after attempted tax increases.