Editorial Independence
The Pakistan Journal of Veterinary and Animal Research (PJVAR) maintains full editorial independence in all aspects of manuscript handling and publication. Editorial decisions are based exclusively on the scientific quality, originality, relevance, and ethical soundness of submitted work. The publisher, sponsors, or any external organizations have no role in influencing editorial decisions.
Editorial Responsibility
The journal is managed by the Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, and Editorial Board members, who collectively oversee manuscript evaluation, peer review, and publication decisions. Editors are responsible for ensuring fairness, confidentiality, and consistency throughout the editorial process. The final decision regarding acceptance or rejection of a manuscript rests with the Editor-in-Chief or Managing Editor.
Submitted scientific material and Scientific Misconduct
All manuscripts submitted to PJVAR undergo an initial editorial assessment to determine their suitability for the journal’s scope, adherence to submission guidelines, scientific merit, and ethical compliance. Manuscripts that do not meet these requirements may be declined without external peer review. Only original, unpublished articles that have not been submitted or published elsewhere are accepted for publication in this journal. Duplicate submissions or manuscripts in which authors merely restate previously published data using different wording will not be considered. In cases where such issues are detected after publication, the journal reserves the right to issue a Retraction Note. For each case, Editors will follow guidelines provided by COPE’s Core Practices for onward implementation.
Peer Review Policy
Our standard policy informs authors that any paper containing primary findings, or secondary analysis of primary findings, including any supporting information, must be reviewed by at least two Referees and our review type is double-blinded. The Editors reserves the right to reject a manuscript without review, if the research does not meet the journal’s standards or is not relevant to its readership. Papers rejected due to low quality or limited relevance are sent back to the author(s) without review.
The journal follows a structured workflow to ensure timely processing of manuscripts:
1. Submission Received: Manuscript is checked for formatting and scope suitability.
2. Initial Screening: Editor performs preliminary evaluation; unsuitable manuscripts may be desk-rejected.
3. Peer Review: Manuscripts are sent to at least two independent reviewers for double-blind review (typically 4–6 weeks).
4. Author Revision: Authors are requested to revise based on reviewer comments (2–4 weeks).
5. Final Decision: Editor reviews revised manuscript; acceptance or rejection decision communicated to authors (2 weeks).
6. Proofing & Typesetting: Accepted manuscripts are formatted, proofed, and approved by authors (1–2 weeks).
7. Publication: Final article is published online in the scheduled issue.
Total average time from submission to publication: 10–14 weeks, depending on revision cycles.
PJVAR is published biannually:
Issue 1: January – June
Issue 2: July – December
Articles are published online immediately after final acceptance and proofing within the scheduled issue.
Authorship policy
Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made a substantial contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the reported study. All persons who meet these criteria must be included in the author list, while individuals who contributed to minor or supporting aspects of the research should be acknowledged in the Acknowledgments section. The corresponding author is responsible to make sure that all qualified persons (as defined above) are included as authors of the manuscript, and no unqualified persons are listed. All co-authors must have reviewed and approved the final manuscript and agreed to its submission for publication.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools
The use of artificial intelligence tools for writing, data generation, image creation, or data interpretation must be disclosed at the time of submission. AI tools may be used only for limited language editing or formatting support and must not replace scholarly judgment. Manuscripts in which AI tools are used to generate scientific content, manipulate data, or produce results without proper disclosure may be rejected. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their work.
Ethical conduct and Research integrity
Authors submitting to PJVAR must follow the highest standards of ethical research and publication practices. All manuscripts should be original, properly reference all sources, and must not have been published or submitted elsewhere. The journal screens submissions for plagiarism and duplicate publication, and any unethical behavior including data fabrication, falsification, or improper attribution of text or ideas may result in rejection, retraction, and restriction from future submissions.
Research involving animals, humans, or sensitive materials must comply with relevant ethical regulations and receive approval from the appropriate institutional review bodies. The Editors will follow COPE guidelines to address any ethical issues or misconduct identified before or after publication.
Originality and Plagiarism
Submitted manuscripts must be original and not under consideration or published elsewhere. All submissions are screened for plagiarism using appropriate similarity detection tools. Manuscripts containing plagiarism (>19% with over 5% plagiarism from single source), excessive self-plagiarism, or manipulated content will be rejected or retracted if detected after publication.
Conflict of Interest
An author is responsible for identifying and declaring any financial or other interest that might be perceived as a conflict of interest and could possibly compromise the author’s impartiality at the time of submitting manuscript. In the absence of an explicit acknowledgment, the Editors consider that no interests are in conflict.
Confidentiality
All manuscripts are treated as confidential documents. Editors and reviewers must not disclose manuscript information or use unpublished material for personal or professional benefit.
Appeals and Complaints
Authors may submit appeals against editorial decisions with valid scientific justification. Complaints regarding editorial procedures or ethical concerns are handled impartially and transparently by senior editorial staff.
Policy Review and Updates
The Editorial Policy of PJVAR is periodically reviewed and updated to ensure alignment with international publishing standards, regulatory requirements, and best practices in scholarly communication.