Peer Review

Initial screening, role of Editorial Board and triage

  • Submitted manuscripts undergo an initial screening by the Editorial Board to verify complete files submission and meeting Journal’s requirements. This includes checking the availability and adequacy of essential documents viz:
  • Ethics Approval Certificate
  • Authors’ Undertaking including authorship contribution statement and contact information
  • Layout of the manuscript according to standard format and sequence
  • The Proof of Payment of the Article Processing Fee
  • Manuscripts not submitted in accordance with the ‘Guidelines for Authors’ are returned to the authors for correction before further processing.
  • After screening, the manuscripts are triaged by a designated member of the Editorial Board. The assigned editor evaluates the manuscript for originality and suitability with respect to the scope of the Journal.
  • The Editor may recommend rejection if the manuscript is deemed unsuitable, falls outside the Scope of the Journal, or does not meet submission requirements.
  • All manuscripts are subjected to TurnItIn or iThenticate software before entering the peer review process. The Journal of Pakistan Physiological Society follows the ethical standards set by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Manuscripts showing a high similarity index or evidence of plagiarism, redundant publication, or text recycling are rejected without further consideration. Submissions from researchers must remain within the similarity threshold set by Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan. Manuscripts exceeding this limit are returned to authors for correction, clarification, or revision, and may be rejected if unethical overlap is confirmed.
  • The Editors ensure timely communication with authors, maintains workflow tracking, and support internal and external reviews.
  • Manuscripts may be returned to authors by the Editors for revision or correction, as identified during editorial screening. Revised manuscripts are assessed for the adequacy of authors’ responses and corrections. Once the Editors are satisfied with the revisions, the manuscript proceeds to external peer review, initiated by the Chief Editor or Editor.
  • The Chief Editor has final authority over editorial decisions and ensures that the entire process adheres to ethical and publication standards of the PJP.

Peer Review

  • The selected manuscripts are sent to TWO Peer Reviewers experts in their subject (may be more if needed). Peer reviewers evaluate the suitability of the article for publication based on its quality, novelty, and relevance for publication.
  • A period of 2 weeks is given to reviewers to go through a manuscript and send their suggestions to PJP. A reminder from the editor with additional 2 weeks’ time for review is sent.
  • If a reviewer shows inability or declines to review the manuscript, the manuscript is sent to another reviewer.
  • All manuscripts are placed on ‘Fast Track’. The editor do request for rapid review of every manuscripts.
  • A Certificate of Review is granted by the PJP to the Reviewers on every The Reviewers also claim their credits from ReviewerCredits.

Final decision

  • The reviewers recommend acceptance, minor/major revision or rejection of manuscripts.
  • If minor/major revision is required, the manuscript is sent back to author(s) accordingly.
  • Authors will be requested to do relevant corrections in the manuscript as suggested by the reviewers and resubmit in shortest possible time.
  • Authors are requested to send a detailed point-to-point account of addressing the issues pointed out by the reviewers.
  • The revised manuscript is assessed by an Editor for the desired changes/corrections/revision. Editor will consider the recommendations of the reviewers and the revision by the authors, but the final decision is of the Chief Editor/Editor. If the revisions are satisfactory, the manuscript is accepted and scheduled for a forthcoming issue of PJP.
  • The editors/copyeditors reserve the right to edit the article for format of the PJP.

Pakistan Journal of Physiology follows double blind peer review process. Usually only a single manuscript is sent to any reviewer at a time. The Peer Reviewers for PJP can claim 'Reviewer Certificate' from 'ReviwerCredits' besides receiving a Review Certificate from the PJP.

The manuscript is sent to a third reviewer in case any of the reviewers declares it unfit for publication. In case of conflict or disputed articles, the matter is discussed with the Chief Editor and finally to a third-party ombudsman as nominated by the Chief Editor. Authors have the right to inform the editor about the reviewers to whom their manuscript may not be sent for review.

The editors do not serve as peer reviewers!