He passed the Indian civil service examination in India in 1941. In the same year, he was appointed on probation serving the United Province government as assistant magistrate for a year (and not trained in (London) due to the enactment of Government of India Act 1935.[2]: 306 After probation he was allowed more time for on-ground administrative experience by serving the United Province Government as Joint Magistrate from 1942 to 1947. From 1947 to 1950, he was district magistrate and collector (DM) in Pauri Garhwal.[5] By 1946/1947 the decision of the partition of India into two new countries by the British government based on the opinions of the political parties could not spare division within the prestigious ICS. The members of the ICS community were found to be biased toward the political parties. While most of the Muslim ICSs opted for the newly formed Pakistan, MA Quraishi, one of the few, showed courage with a nationalist view, by opting for India as opposed to Pakistan. His action was noted as a victory of democracy in India in addition to providing stability to civil services in Uttar Pradesh India.[6][7]
From 1953-1957 he worked with the U.P. Government as the Administrator, Municipal Boards and Improvement Trusts. During the time above, cities with big populations, among others, Lucknow, and Kanpur gained improvement in infrastructure including connectivity to other cities; amendment of the existing ‘THE UTTAR PRADESH MUNICIPALITIES ACT, 1916 took place’. He was the divisional commissioner of Meerut division, the biggest division in Uttar Pradesh responsible for administering law and order from 1957-1964. Since February 1964 he has been Secretary of Agricultural Production and Rural Development, in the Government of Uttar Pradesh. In addition, he was Chairman of Agro-Industrial Corporation, U.P.; and a member of the Board of Management, Pantnagar University , and the Committee of Panel of Experts on Agricultural Administration.[8]
Based on his work in the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Uttar Pradesh, he later served the Ministry of Agriculture/ or departments under Agricultr as secretary, Government of India from 1979 onward; and the vice-chancellor of Dr. Rammanohar Lohia Avadh University, Faizabad.[9] Preiviustly, he was an Indian ambassador to Saudi Arabia (1976-1979). [10]