Peer Review Policy

The Pakistan Journal of Clinical Research (PJCR) upholds the highest standards of scholarly publishing through a rigorous double-blind peer review process that ensures the integrity, quality, and validity of all published research. Upon submission, manuscripts are initially screened by the Editor-in-Chief or designated editorial board members for scope, ethical compliance, and proper formatting, with non-compliant or ethically concerning submissions returned without review. PJCR’s double-blind peer review system guarantees the anonymity of authors and reviewers, with at least two independent reviewers selected based on expertise, credentials, and prior experience. Manuscripts are evaluated for scientific rigor, originality, significance, clarity, methodology, ethical adherence, data integrity, and reproducibility, while reviewers must declare conflicts of interest and maintain strict confidentiality. Editorial decisions, made by the Editor-in-Chief or assigned editors, may include acceptance, minor or major revisions, or rejection, with authors required to revise and respond to reviewer feedback as needed. Formal appeals are considered if authors dispute editorial decisions. PJCR follows COPE guidelines, strictly monitors for plagiarism, data fabrication, and unethical practices, and ensures that reviewers provide constructive, unbiased, and timely feedback. All decisions are made independently of commercial, political, or personal influence, ensuring a transparent, ethical, and high-quality peer review system that maintains the credibility and integrity of clinical research and healthcare science publications.