Publication Ethics

Pakistan Journal of Nutrition upholds the highest ethical standards in scientific publishing to ensure the credibility of research and trust among scholars. Ethical responsibilities are clearly defined for authors, reviewers, and editors, ensuring transparency, fairness, and accountability at every stage of the publication process. These principles are in accordance with globally accepted publishing ethics.

Outlined below are the essential guidelines that must be followed throughout the editorial workflow. Any queries or concerns regarding ethical practices or the publication history of a manuscript may be addressed to our publication ethics team.

Authorship and Originality

All individuals listed as authors must have made a meaningful contribution to the research and take collective responsibility for its content. Authorship should be limited to those who have been directly involved in the design, execution, analysis, or writing of the manuscript. The submission must represent original work that has not been previously published or simultaneously submitted elsewhere. Any form of ghostwriting, guest authorship, or honorary authorship is strictly prohibited.

Plagiarism and Unauthorized Use

Submitted manuscripts must be free from plagiarism, including direct copying, paraphrasing without citation, or presenting others’ ideas as one’s own. This includes text, data, figures, and research findings. Authors are expected to properly credit all sources and obtain permissions where necessary. Our journal uses reliable plagiarism detection tools to screen all submissions and reserves the right to reject or retract work that violates these standards.

Data Integrity and Research Conduct

We expect authors to present data honestly and transparently. Data fabrication, falsification, selective reporting, or manipulation are unacceptable practices and constitute serious violations of research ethics. Any methods used to collect and analyze data must be described in detail to ensure reproducibility. If requested, authors should be willing to provide raw data or additional documentation to verify the integrity of their research.

Conflict of Interest

All participants in the publication process—including authors, reviewers, and editors—are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest, whether financial, personal, academic, or professional, that might influence the objectivity or integrity of the manuscript. Full transparency is essential to maintain trust and credibility. Disclosures should be made at the time of submission and will be published alongside the article when appropriate.

Peer Review Process

We follow a fair and impartial peer review process designed to uphold scholarly standards. Each manuscript is reviewed by qualified experts in the field, with identities concealed from both authors and reviewers (double-blind review). Reviewers are expected to provide objective, constructive, and confidential evaluations. Any attempt to manipulate the review process will be considered a breach of ethics and will be handled accordingly.

Editorial Responsibilities

Editors are entrusted with making publication decisions based solely on academic merit, relevance, and originality, independent of the authors’ background or affiliations. They must handle submissions objectively, avoid conflicts of interest, and maintain confidentiality throughout the process. Editors also have the responsibility to address ethical concerns promptly and take corrective action when necessary.

Corrections, Retractions, and Errata

If significant errors or inaccuracies are discovered post-publication—whether by authors, readers, or editors—we are committed to issuing timely corrections. In cases where the findings are invalidated due to ethical misconduct or serious methodological flaws, the article may be retracted. Retractions and correction notices will be clearly linked to the original publication and accessible to all readers to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.