[6] In the 1960s, Squadron-Leader Khan was educated at the Air War College, where he earned a degree in staff course[clarification needed].

Zulfiqar Ali Khan was posted in the Foreign ministry and briefly served as air attaché at the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi, led by H.E.

[11]: 144 In 1975, he helped established the Northern Air Command, based in PAF Base Kalabagh, oversaw the induction of the MiG-15 as a jet trainer, establishment[clarification needed] of the Air Defence Command, and provided his support to rebuilding Mirage III aircraft at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex.

[1][10]: 199  ACM Zulfiqar Ali Khan was then made senior member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, and honored with the NI(M) for meritorious services.

[11]: 144  During this same time, ACM Zulfikar Ali Khan helped establish the Combat Commanders' School set up under Gp-Capt.

[12] Over the issue of clandestine atomic bomb programme, ACM Zulfiqar Ali Khan reportedly advised Prime Minister Bhutto against the acquisition of the aging A-7 and F-5 military aircraft in order to stop the work on the reprocessing plant for plutonium development, noting that "atomic bomb programme should not stop for any reason be compromised.

[15] Upon retirement, Zulfikar Ali Khan joined the Foreign Service and was appointed Pakistan's ambassador to Switzerland, serving from 1979 to 1981.

[17][18] In 1989, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto appointed him as the Pakistan Ambassador to the United States in Washington DC.

[13] On 8 March 2005, Air Chief Marshal Zulfiqar Ali Khan died of cardiac arrest in Islamabad when he suffered a heart attack at his residence and was taken to the PAF Hospital, but the doctors pronounced him dead.

[20] Begum Sajida Zulifqar, wife of Air Chief Marshal Zulifqar Ali Khan, died on 30 September 2012 and her funeral prayers were attended by all former PAF Air Chiefs, politicians, bureaucrats, senior serving and retired military officials and a large number of people from all walks of life.