PTU was established by an act of state legislature of Punjab in 1997 at Jalandhar. PTU affiliates 155 Engineering, Management, Pharmacy and Architect Colleges in the state of Punjab where 1,00,000 students are pursuing their professional qualifications.

Under its DIstance Education program PTU has more than 1000 Learning centers across India presently having 1,50,000 students that have been growing @ 100% per annum since foure years consecutively.

PTU is recognized by University Grants Commission under section 2(f) of UGC act. All its colleges are approved by AICTE, All India Council of Technical Education where as all its programs are approved by Distance Education Council. PTU is also a member of AIU, Association of Indian Universities. All its programs are internationally recognized and the students have provisions of lateral entries into selected foreign Universities and Colleges.