Plagiarism Policy

Pakistan Journal of Translational and Applied Medicine (PJTAM)

Introduction

PJTAM maintains a firm commitment to academic integrity and ethical publishing. Plagiarism in any form is considered a serious breach of scholarly ethics. To uphold the credibility of scientific research and ensure the originality of published work, PJTAM enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy on plagiarism.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as the use of another individual’s intellectual property—including text, ideas, images, data, or published findings—without appropriate credit. The following practices are considered violations:

  • Direct Copying: Reproducing text verbatim without proper citation or quotation.

  • Paraphrasing without Attribution: Rewriting another author’s ideas or data without giving due credit.

  • Unacknowledged Use of Figures/Data: Incorporating graphs, charts, tables, or datasets without appropriate referencing.

  • Self-Plagiarism: Republishing one’s previously submitted or published work without disclosure or citation.

Similarity Threshold

  • PJTAM Standard: A similarity index must not exceed 10%.

  • HEC Benchmark (Pakistan): Although the Higher Education Commission (HEC) permits up to 19% similarity, PJTAM adheres to a stricter threshold to promote scholarly excellence.

Detection and Prevention

  • Screening Tools: All submissions are scanned using advanced plagiarism detection software such as Turnitin.

  • Author Responsibility: Authors are responsible for submitting original work and ensuring that all external sources are properly cited.

Handling of Plagiarism

Type of Plagiarism Editorial Action
Minor (e.g., citation errors, oversight) Manuscript returned to the author for correction and resubmission.
Major (e.g., extensive or deliberate copying) Immediate rejection or retraction (if published).
Repeated or severe violations Author blacklisting; institutional or funding agency may be notified.

Statement of Originality

All submissions must be accompanied by a formal declaration stating that:

  • The manuscript is original and has not been published or submitted elsewhere.

  • All data, content, and citations are properly attributed.

  • The authors accept full responsibility for the integrity of the manuscript.

Appeals Process

Authors may appeal plagiarism-related decisions by submitting a written justification. Appeals will be reviewed by the PJTAM Editorial Board, and a final, unbiased decision will be provided after comprehensive evaluation.

Transparency and Retraction

If plagiarism is discovered after publication, PJTAM will issue a formal retraction notice, explaining the grounds for retraction. This action preserves the integrity of the journal and informs the academic community.

Use of AI-Generated Content

PJTAM prohibits the use of AI-generated content (e.g., ChatGPT, Bard, Gemini, or similar tools) in submitted manuscripts. All content must originate from human authorship and independent scientific inquiry.

  • AI-assisted content is not acceptable in any manuscript section (e.g., title, abstract, results, discussion).

  • Manuscripts must contain 0% AI-generated material.

  • Violations will be treated with the same severity as traditional plagiarism and will result in rejection or retraction.