PJR

  • OPEN ACCESS
  • ISSN (Print): 2311-3863
  • ISSN (Online): 2309-7833
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Pakistan Journal of Rehabilitation

Peer Review Policy

Peer Review Policy

The Pakistan Journal of Rehabilitation follows a double-blind peer review system to ensure fairness, confidentiality, and quality in all publications. In this process, the identities of both authors and reviewers are kept anonymous throughout the review. 

1. Confidentiality and Anonymity

  • The editorial team removes all identifying details before sending manuscripts to reviewers.

  • Reviewer comments and author responses are stored securely in the Open Journal Systems (OJS) platform and remain confidential.

  • Authors may acknowledge contributors in the cover letter, but such details are not shared with reviewers. 

2. Initial Editorial Assessment

  • Every submission undergoes a preliminary screening for:

    • Completeness

    • Originality

    • Ethical approval

    • Relevance to the journal’s scope

  • Manuscripts failing to meet these criteria may be returned to authors without external review. 

3. Peer Review Process

  • Eligible manuscripts are assigned to at least two independent reviewers (national and/or international).

  • Reviewers are selected based on:

    • Subject expertise

    • Reputation

    • Prior review performance

    • Absence of conflicts of interest

  • In exceptional cases, an editor may act as a second reviewer to ensure timely evaluation.

  • Reviewer feedback is communicated constructively to authors, who are given sufficient time to revise and resubmit. 

4. Editor Responsibilities

  • Editors ensure peer review is fair, objective, and free of discrimination.

  • If an editor has a conflict of interest, the manuscript is handled by another editorial board member.

  • The final decision on publication rests with the editorial team, guided by reviewer recommendations. 

5. Conflicts of Interest

  • Editors and reviewers must declare any actual or potential conflicts of interest.

  • Authors may suggest potential reviewers in their cover letter but should avoid recommending:

    • Current or former colleagues from the same institution

    • Reviewers with personal or professional conflicts

  • Suggested reviewers must have verifiable institutional email addresses and researcher identifiers (e.g., ORCID, Scopus ID). 

6. Reviewer Conduct and Integrity

  • Reviewers must provide timely, unbiased, and constructive reports.

  • Misconduct such as:

    • Identity theft

    • False reviewer suggestions

    • Fabricated review

    • These will result in rejection and possible further action in line with COPE guidelines. 

7. Diversity and Inclusion

  • PJR promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in peer review.

  • Editors aim to invite reviewers from varied geographic, institutional, gender, and disciplinary backgrounds to ensure balanced representation. 

8. Transparency and Accountability

  • All peer review activities are managed through OJS, ensuring secure, traceable, and confidential handling of manuscripts.

  • PJR adheres to COPE guidelines to maintain ethical and transparent peer review.  

9. Review Timelines

  • Initial Editorial Screening: Within 1–2 weeks of submission

  • First Round of Peer Review: Completed within 2–4 weeks

  • Author Revisions: 2–4 weeks to respond to reviewer comments

  • Subsequent Rounds (if required): Each additional review cycle takes 2–3 weeks

  • Final Decision: Within 8–12 weeks of submission

Note: While PJR strives to meet these timelines, variations may occur depending on reviewer availability, the quality of the submission, and the extent of revisions required. 

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