Established in 2005, the Punjab Examination Commission (PEC) was an autonomous body under the School Education Department, Punjab. Its primary responsibility was to conduct annual examinations for Grade 5 and Grade 8 students across the province, aiming to assess student learning outcomes and improve the quality of education.

The PEC organized annual examinations for Grade 5 and Grade 8 students, typically held in February. These exams were mandatory for all students in government and optional for private students and schools in Punjab. The examinations were conducted with over 2.5 million students participating across 36 districts in the province. However, in 2019, the Punjab government announced the abolition of Grade 5 and Grade 8 board examinations conducted by PEC. This decision aimed to alleviate academic pressure on students and promote a more holistic approach to education.

Over the years, the PEC examinations revealed a consistent trend in student performance. For instance, in 2018, the pass percentage for Grade 5 was 86.58%, and for Grade 8, it was 86.62%. A total of 2,549,680 students appeared in the exams, with 1,480,366 in Grade 5 and 1,069,314 in Grade 8.

In 2019, approximately 2.6 million students appeared for the Grade 5 and Grade 8 annual examinations. The examinations for Grade 5 were held from February 4 to February 14, 2019, while Grade 8 examinations took place from February 16 to February 25, 2019.

In 2019, the Punjab government decided to phase out Grade 5 and Grade 8 examinations conducted by PEC. The new policy aimed to reduce the academic burden on students and promote continuous assessment through School-Based Assessments (SBA). This transition marked a significant shift in the educational assessment landscape in Punjab.

The PEC examinations played a pivotal role in assessing student learning outcomes in Punjab from 2006 to 2020. While the transition to School-Based Assessments reflects a shift towards continuous evaluation, the legacy of PEC examinations continues to influence educational assessment practices in the region.