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doi: 10.29271/jcpsppg.2025.01.02Research is an important part of postgraduate training programmes in Pakistan, for instance, for all Fellowship (FCPS) training programmes of the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Pakistan (CPSP). In addition, all universities also make it a mandatory requirement in their Masters or above levels academic programmes, such as MPhil and PhD. This is also an integral part of all portfolios for academic appointments and promotions for the Faculty. At present, the medical under- graduate programmes also include ‘Research Methodology’ in their curriculum and provide elective time to students to pursue this initiative and publish. The purpose is to foster a research culture among students, which helps them develop critical thinking, analytical skills, fresh perspective, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. This research training not only contributes to the academic and professional growth of students but also boosts the reputation and ranking of the institute and contributes significantly to societal development, ultimately enabling us to remain globally competitive.
Pakistani students, postgraduate trainees and even faculty members need to understand the importance of genuine research writing and should seriously learn research writing skills instead of seeking shortcuts and hiring professional content writers or using AI tools to write their work. Genuine research writing is important for their academic and intellectual development, which helps them to contribute meaningfully to their field. Moreover, they should also strive to turn their research work into a recognised publication to enhance their academic credentials, which ultimately increases their credibility and opens up opportunities for further research collaboration and career development. Therefore, students, residents, and faculty need to identify a legitimate and reputable journal for publication of their research work rather than being trapped by predatory or clone journals.
The term 'predatory journal' refers to exploitative journals that engage in malpractice, such as publishing papers without proper peer review for financial gain.1 In contrast, clone journals are fake or counterfeit versions of legitimate journals that replicate their titles and ISSNs.2 Unlike predatory journals, they tend to accept more papers from authors due to their resemblance to reputable journals. They often gain attention by falsely claiming high impact factors from recognised indexing agencies like Web of Science and Scopus;1 and by offering fast-tracked publication, often with little to no peer review and charging a hefty amount for their services.2
Publishing in such journals can damage the authors' academic career and reputation, as their papers often disappear from the respective journal’s website and can be removed from the indexing databases. Nevertheless, the business of predatory journals has mushroomed in Pakistan. The reason is a lack of awareness among researchers who are tempted by their claims of guaranteed publication in PMDC/HEC- recognised journals in just 10-15 days. In fact, there are certain groups who are actively advertising through social media incessantly and unhesitantly.
They claim guaranteed publication in a few selected HEC-recognised journals in exchange for an exorbitant amount of money, i.e. 60k-100k. Their services include entire paper writing with manipulated data using AI tools, publication, paid authorship slot, paid publication slot, DOI activation, etc. The early slot is more costly. The buyers of these services are usually early-career students seeking scholarships abroad, PhD Scholars, and recent PhDs as well as Faculty members looking to boost their resumes and planning to apply for promotions. This practice is extremely unethical and alarming because it is damaging the true essence of research in Pakistan.
To address this issue, our students, academic institutions, funding agencies, and regulatory authorities must work together to expose this menace and safeguard the future of Pakistan’s research community.
The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the World Asso- ciation of Medical Editors (WAME), and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) each play pivotal roles in raising awareness, establishing ethical standards, and providing guidance to editors and publishers in combating predatory journals.
To combat the proliferation of predatory journals in Pakistan, a multifaceted approach is essential. Students, residents, and faculty should prioritise acquiring genuine research and scientific writing skills. They should carefully select reputable, peer-reviewed journals for publication and avoid submitting work to questionable journals.
Academic institutions can support this by providing training on research ethics, critical evaluation of journals, and publication standards in their curricula. Regular workshops and mentorship opportunities should be provided to help early-career researchers recognise and avoid predatory practices. Faculty members must serve as mentors, guiding trainees in ethical research conduct and publication processes.
Regulatory bodies in Pakistan should conduct thorough investigations when complaints are lodged against journals exhibiting unethical practices. Such journals must receive appropriate warnings or face delisting from the list of recognised journals. Strict penalties should be enforced for individuals and groups found promoting or engaging unethical publication services.
By utilising a combination of awareness, supervision, and robust ethical frameworks, the academic community and its Governing Bodies can protect the integrity of research in Pakistan and restore confidence in scholarly publishing.
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