The Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Textbook Board is a successor of West Pakistan Textbook Board which was established in 1962. Prior to east of West Pakistan Textbook Board there was no regular system of printing, publishing & distributing Textbooks. The blue eyed publisher used to develop and print the books at their own and supply to the schools at personal contact.

In 1962, the government decided to introduce a regular system of production and distribution of text books. The West Pakistan Textbook Board on autonomous body was established beside East Pakistan Textbook Board. On disintegration of one unit in 1970 from provinces including Khyber Pakhtunkhawa were constituted, at that time two regional offices of West Pakistan. Textbook at Peshawar and Bannu will quit a limited staff out of responsibilities was functioning. The Govt of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa took about eight months to assess the need of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Textbook Board. The ordinance of the Board was promulgated on 29, March 1971. The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa has been the Competent Authority of the Board till 2006, when the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhawa hand over and Competent Authority as a result of an amendment in the ordinance No 1 of 1971.

It is worth mentioned that over all the prices of the Textbooks of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Textbook Board had been lowest as compared to other province. The basic source of income of the Board was royalty or service charges but later on the profit earned on bank account too becomes a reasonable source of income. The Board develops the textbook according to the curriculum notified by the Federal Government and after completion of necessary process of review and approval, prints the textbook through publisher or printer against approved printing rate. The paper is however arranged through tender system mainly from the Paper Mills.

Pursuant to policy of the Provincial Government, the Board supplies the stock of all the textbooks from class I to X to the student through Education Department Khyber Pakhtunkhawa. The books are given to the student free of cost. The books meant for sale are distributed through a network of Sale Agents. The Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Textbook Board is a standing Member of Inter Board Committee Chairman as well as Provincial Education Board. All the issues related to the Textbooks are discussed in the regular meetings of the IBCC.

Pursuant to introduction of new Textbooks & Learning Materials Policy 2007, the Board is planning to uplift the private sector of the province but not at the coast of student's interest. The rules and regulations in this respect will be notified shortly.