Ustad Tafu was born in Lahore, now in Pakistan, to a musician's family, "a part of a musical legacy that spans seven generations.
"[2] Tafu started his career in 1970 when his first film song, Sunn wey balori akhh waaliya as music director, sung by Noor Jehan was featured in movie Anwara (1970).
[3] Ustad Tafu showcased his tabla playing skills at the Coke Studio Pakistan (season 7) (2014) along with musicians Bilal Maqsood and the Pakistani pop rock music group Strings.
[2] In 2017, Ustad Tafu claimed in an interview that he first introduced Naseebo Lal as a playback singer in the Pakistani film industry.
He also comes from an extended family of film score composers – Master Inayat Hussain being his maternal cousin.