Publication Ethics

Ethical Policies & Procedures

Update Publishing requires adherence to ethical policies by authors, reviewers, and members of the editorial board for journals published under the standards expected in Pakistan Journal of Agriculture (PJA). At Update Publishing, we are committed to maintaining high quality and standards in both the pre- and post-publication processes of research articles.

Authorship Criteria

In a published paper, the study and preparation of the manuscript should be based on substantial contributions to the conduct of the research for authorship credit. Co-supervisors or co-PIs in a PhD or Master's project do not qualify for authorship based solely on their roles. Research should reflect the relative contributions of authors in the order of authorship. To clarify, co-authors' contributions must be detailed at the end of the article, and a written statement must be provided to Update Publishing. All co-authors of the study must give permission to the corresponding author before submission to the journal.

Initial Screening

Upon reception of an article, the editorial staff will screen it for format, journal scope, originality, and potential impact. If the article does not conform to Update Publishing’s standard format, it will be returned to the author for corrections before it proceeds to external peer review.

External Peer Review

Authors can suggest at least three reviewers during submission who can assess the manuscript. Collaborators or previous co-authors of any of the submitting authors should not serve as reviewers. Suggested reviewers must be from a different institution or country and must have an institutional email address. The editors may or may not contact the suggested reviewers.

Ethical Expectations

The article should clearly summarize the purpose and rationale for the study. It should not broadly review the subject nor present conclusions that do not stem from the study data.

Authors’ Responsibilities

Authors play a critical role in ensuring the quality and integrity of their academic papers. They are responsible for ensuring that their submission is original, creative, and free of plagiarized material. Authors must adhere to the Update Publishing policy on plagiarism. Before submitting a paper, authors must obtain permission from all co-authors to ensure that everyone is aware of and approves the submission. The submitted paper must not be under consideration by any other journal, and all previously published sources must be recognized and correctly cited. If figures, data, or tables have been previously published, an agreement letter from the previous authors or publishers is required. Additionally, authors must retain the raw data of the study in case any queries arise, with the corresponding author being accountable for providing details. Any grant sources used in the study must also be disclosed. If needed, authors should seek ethical guidance from relevant authorities to ensure that their studies are conducted ethically and responsibly. Finally, authors should disclose any potential conflicts of interest to maintain transparency and credibility in their submission.

Reviewers’ Responsibilities

Reviewers play a crucial role in ensuring the quality of academic papers. They are responsible for evaluating the manuscript based on its scientific value in an objective and balanced manner. Reviewers should focus on the novelty and creativity of the work and assess its potential impact on readers. They should also evaluate the suitability of the methodology, study plan, and other technical aspects of the paper. Additionally, it is important for reviewers to complete the review process in a timely manner. Information related to the article under review should be kept confidential, and reviewers should not retain or copy the manuscript. If there are any potential conflicts of interest, reviewers should communicate this to the editor. Finally, the review process should be based on an equality policy regarding intellectual and scientific content, regardless of the author(s)’ gender, religion, ethnicity, race, citizenship, or political beliefs. By adhering to these guidelines, reviewers can ensure that academic papers are evaluated fairly and objectively, contributing to the advancement of scientific knowledge