Prior to his appointment to Chencellor Dr Tahirkheli was a leading professor geology Vice Chancellor Gandhara University, Pakistan, 1999 to date; Vice Chancellor University of Peshawar, 1982-1987; Professor and Director, Center of Excellence in Geology, 1978-1988; Chairman, Department of Geology, 1964-1978; Reader & Chairman, Department of Geology, 1964-1969; Geological Survey of Pakistan: Senior Geologist/Deputy Director, 1962-1964; Geologist, 1959-1962; Assistant, Geologist, 1951-1958 | known_for = Special Contributions to Geology of Himalayas, Karakoram and Hindukush; Published 3 Monographs. | prizes = Sitara-i-Imtiaz, Govt. of Pakistan, 1982; Medal for Academic Excellence, University of Edinboro, USA, 1986.