Publication Process

Publication Process

Authors’ Responsibilities

• Originality and Exclusivity:
  Authors confirm that their manuscripts are original, have not been published elsewhere, and are not under consideration by another journal. Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals is considered misconduct and results in disqualification from further review. Reprinting previously published work in Pakistan Science and Technology Publisher’s journals is not permitted.
• Content Responsibility:
  Authors are solely responsible for the content of their submissions, ensuring the manuscript contains no unlawful or unsubstantiated claims and does not infringe on third-party rights.
• Authorship Integrity:
  The listed authors should include only those who have significantly contributed to the manuscript. Contributions by others should be acknowledged appropriately in a footnote or the Acknowledgments section.
• Research Attribution:
  Authors must specify the title and funding details of the research project related to the manuscript. If the manuscript was presented at a conference, full details of the event must be included.
• Citation and Quotation:
  Proper citation of influential sources is mandatory. Direct quotes, including text, equations, images, and tables, should be clearly marked with their origin. A comprehensive References section must list all cited works, adhering to the journal's citation style.
• Error Reporting:
  Upon discovering a significant error in their published work, authors must promptly inform the Editor-in-Chief and cooperate in correcting or retracting the paper.
• Conflict of Interest:
  Authors must disclose any financial or substantive conflicts of interest that could influence the research results or interpretation.
• Adherence to Policies:
  By submitting a manuscript, authors agree to comply with Pakistan Science and Technology Publisher’s policies.

Funding Statement

All authors must disclose funding sources, including institutional, private, or corporate support. This information should be included at the end of the manuscript under the ‘Funding’ section. If no funding was received, the statement should read: “This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.” Any material suppliers should also be named with their location.

Editorial Responsibilities

• Publication Decisions:
  The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for deciding which manuscripts to publish, based solely on their academic merit and free from biases related to race, gender, religion, ethnicity, or politics. Decisions are also guided by editorial policies and legal considerations, including defamation, copyright infringement, and plagiarism.
• Conflict of Interest:
  Editorial board members, including the Editor-in-Chief, must avoid conflicts of interest. Those with potential conflicts must recuse themselves from the decision-making process for the relevant manuscript.
• Confidentiality:
  Submitted manuscripts and their ideas must be kept confidential. Editors must not use unpublished material for personal benefit without the authors’ written consent.
• Reviewer Anonymity:
  Editors must ensure the anonymity of authors and reviewers throughout the evaluation process.

Reviewers' Responsibilities

• Objective Assessment:
  Reviewers must provide a timely, unbiased assessment of the manuscript’s scholarly merits, focusing on originality and contribution to the field. Their judgment should be clear and supported by evidence.
• Manuscript Evaluation:
  Reviewers assess the manuscript's relevance to the journal’s scope, the significance of the research, the appropriateness of the methods, and the quality of presentation. They must follow a standard review format.
• Conflict of Interest:
  Reviewers should not review manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists and must inform the Editor-in-Chief promptly if such conflicts arise.
• Ethical Oversight:
  Reviewers should alert the Editor-in-Chief to potential ethical violations. They should also identify relevant works not cited in the manuscript and may suggest additional references for citation if necessary.
• Quality Improvement:
  Reviewers are expected to help enhance the manuscript’s quality through constructive feedback. If revisions are recommended, specific guidance must be provided.
• Confidentiality:
  Manuscripts under review must be treated as confidential. Reviewers must not use unpublished materials for personal benefit without explicit author consent.

This comprehensive framework ensures the integrity, quality, and transparency of the publication process at Pakistan Science and Technology Publisher.