Shafqat Ali Khan belongs to the Sham Churasi school from East Punjab. This school of music has a long tradition that dates to the Mughal times of Emperor Akbar. His uncle Ustad Nazakat Ali Khan and father Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, the internationally acclaimed classical singers, form the 10th generation of the Sham Churasi school.

Shafqat began performing at the age of seven. His first performance was at the Lahore Music Festival in 1979. Shafqat has performed throughout Europe with several important concerts in France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Holland, Spain, and Switzerland Geneva Festival. He is a well established performer throughout India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.