Awards for Pride of Performance are conferred for outstanding achievements in the fields of art, literature, science, sports and nursing.

Civil awards were incorporated into the constitution of Pakistan following recommendation from then-Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

[2] From 2008 to 2013, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) was criticized for predominantly distributing civil awards to its ardent supporters.

[3] This issue resurfaced in 2024 when Senator Mushahid Ullah Khan raised concerns about the nomination and selection processes for these awards.

[3] Following his objections, a parliamentary panel expressed dismay at the lack of merit and transparency in awarding civil honors to individuals for their achievements in literature, arts, sports, medicine, or science.