Constant monitoring planned to ensure compliance
with minimum standards including mandatory Peer Review
ISLAMABAD: In a move aimed at encouraging and facilitating the publication of biomedical journals, the PM&DC Journals Committee has recommended the recognition of over a dozen journals. Decisions on a few journals were deferred, while another sixteen have been assigned to various members for detailed evaluation.
Group photograph shows Prof. Shoaib Shafi (fourth from left) chairing the PM&DC Journals Committee meeting held at PM&DC offices Islamabad on August 27th, 2025. Others seen in the picture from (L to R) are Brig. Khadija, Registrar of PMDC Dr. Abdul Wali Khan, Prof. Major Gen. Muhammad Aslam, Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid and Madam Rukhsana Nisar in charge Journal section in PMDC. Standing from (L to R) Prof. Junaid Sarfraz, Ms. Rukhsar from Journal Section, Brig. Alamgir Khan and Prof. S.H. Waqar.
The meeting, chaired by Prof. Shoaib Shafi, was held on August 27. Attendees included Prof. Maj. Gen. Muhammad Aslam, Prof. Junaid Sarfraz, Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid, Prof. S.H. Waqar, Brig. Khadija, Brig. Alamgir Khan, the Registrar of PMDC Dr. Abdul Wali Khan, Madam Rukhsana (In-charge, Journals Section), and Ms. Rukhsar, also from the Journals Section. Several members joined the meeting via Zoom, including Prof. Shahid Pervaiz, Prof. Saira Afzal, Prof. Nabiha, Dr. Tahmina Asad, and Prof. Akhtar Sherin. The meeting minutes will be finalized shortly and submitted to the PM&DC Council for final approval.
Minimum Requirements for Journal Recognition
The committee emphasized the importance of adhering to basic publishing standards. Key requirements for all recognized journals include:
• Each manuscript must be reviewed by at least two reviewers, including subject experts.
• Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee approval, with reference number and date, is mandatory.
• A Letter of Undertaking and a plagiarism report must be submitted for every manuscript.
• All supporting documents must be made available on the journal’s website for verification and must be retained for a minimum of two years.
Journals are encouraged to use a Manuscript Management System—preferably the Open Journal System (OJS)—and upload all relevant documents to the system, even if some reviews are conducted manually.
Concerns Over
Gift Authorship
The committee expressed concern over ongoing complaints regarding gift authorship—a practice described as “intellectual corruption.” Strict monitoring will be implemented to identify and prevent such practices. Journals are urged to refrain from and discourage gift authorship in their own interest.
Regular Meetings
and Capacity Building
Members voiced concerns over the long gap between meetings and reiterated that, as per prior decisions, meetings should be held quarterly. It was agreed to organize training sessions and workshops:
• In Karachi for the Sindh province—tentatively in the second week of November at CPSP.
• In Peshawar for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK).
Prof. Shahid Pervaiz will coordinate with the CPSP administration to finalize dates and logistical arrangements. Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid will assist in preparing the programme.
Policy Guidelines Under Review
Some policy guidelines were also discussed during the meeting. A revised draft will be shared with all committee members for feedback before finalization.
