The Pakistan Academy of Letters annually gives the following two awards for the best books in Punjabi language:
Named after the great Punjabi lyrical maestro, Waris Shah, this award is given every year to the best book of Punjabi poetry. This award was launched in 1981. Before the launch of Afzal Ahsan Randhawa Award for Punjabi prose in 2017, this award covered entire Punjabi literature. So far, the following poets and writers have received this award:
| # | Book Title | Author | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Qutbi Tara | Pir Fazal Gujrati | 1401 AH |
| 2 | Hawa Di Suli | Salim Kashir | 1402 AH |
| 3 | Ik Raat Ravi Di | Najm Hussain Syed | 1403 AH |
| 4 | Maulvi Ahmed Yar: Fikr te Fann | Shahbaz Malik | 1404 AH |
| 5 | Suraj Grahan | Afzal Ahsen Randhawa | 1405 AH |
| 6 | Punjabi Lok Geetan Da Fanni Tajziya | Dr. Sarfraz Hussain Qazi | 1406 AH |
| 7 | Taway De Taare | Riaz Majeed | 1407 AH |
| 8 | Vagda Pani | Mohammad Mansha Yad | 1408 AH |
| 9 | Tahli Mere Bachhde | Afzal Tauseef | 1409 AH |
| 10 | Cheerhan Di Chhaan | Arshad Chahal | 1410 AH |
| 11 | Gul Vich Payaam Preet Mahar | Shehzad Kaiser | 1411 AH |
| 12 | Janwar Bataan | Ilyas Ghumman | 1412 AH |
| 13 | Man Warti | Khadim Razmi | 1413 AH |
| 14 | Neelay Chan Di Raat | Rashid Hassan Rana | 1414 AH |
| 15 | Door Dararray | Saber Reza | 1415 AH |
| 16 | Bhabbhal | Farzand Ali | 1416 AH |
| 17 | Hun Ki Kariye? | Anwar Masood | 1417 AH |
| 18 | Tanwan Tanwan Tara | Mohammad Mansha Yad | 1418 AH |
| 19 | Sufne Andiyan Akkhan | Ghulam Mustafa Bismil | 1998 |
| 20 | Pind Di Laj | Ilyas Ghuman | 1999 |
| 21 | Aje Qayamat Nahi Aayi | Munnu Bhai | 2000 |
| 22 | Kookan Ra Wal Yar Dian | Jamil Malek | 2001 |
| 23 | Nami Nami Wa | Ahmed Rahi | 2002 |
| 24 | Aman Waley Milange | Afzal Tauseef | 2003 |
| 25 | Kahani Praga | Nadir Ali | 2004 |
| 26 | Kala Chanan | Mir Tanha Yousufi | 2005 |
| 27 | Darya Burd | Nazeer Khokhar | 2006 |
| 28 | Rubaiyat Taseer | Siddique Taseer | 2007 |
| 29 | Wagha | Nazeer Khokhar | 2008 |
| 30 | Jand Da Angeyaar | Farkhanda Lodhi | 2009 |
| 31 | Harkh | Rai Muhammad Khan Nasir | 2010 |
| 32 | Moj Mela | Dr. Inam-ul-Haqq Javed | 2011 |
| 33 | Ghalicha Anan Wali | Zahid Hassan | 2012 |
| 34 | Kani Kani Darya | Zahid Masood | 2013 |
| 35 | Qissa-e-Aashiqan | Zahid Hassan | 2014 |
| 36 | Tusi Dharti | Zahid Hassan | 2015 |
| 37 | Kisiyan Da Pani | Parveen Malik | 2016 |
| 38 | Hong | Rai Muhammad Khan Nasir | 2017 |
| 39 | Haddak | Rai Muhammad Khan Nasir | 2018 |
| 40 | Lay Das | Tajammul Kaleem | 2019 |
| 41 | Tauheed Da Chan | Bashir Naatiq | 2020 |
| 42 | An Maniya Bahar | Dr. Nasir Baloch Shafqat Hussain | 2021 |
| 43 | Kun De Gun | Ghulam Hussain Sajid | 2022 |
Named after a prominent Punjabi fiction writer, this award is given annually to the best Punjabi prose book. This award was launched in 2017. Earlier, the Waris Shah Award covered all Punjabi literature. So far, the following Punjabi prose writers have received this award:
| # | Book Title | Author | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jhoota Sachha Koi Na | Dr. Nasir Baloch | 2017 |
| 2 | Ghanoo | Ahmed Shahbaz Khawar | 2018 |
| 3 | Pehli Nindar Magron | Shahid Shaidai | 2019 |
| 4 | Professor | Dr. Karamat Mughal | 2020 |
| 5 | Kahani Ik Maan Di | Zahid Hassan | 2021 |
| 6 | Waba Te Wasaib | Nain Sukh | 2022 |
