Corrections, Retractions and Expression of Concern

The Pakistan Journal of Chemistry (PJC) is committed to maintaining the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the published scholarly record. The Journal recognizes that errors, ethical concerns, and issues affecting the reliability of published research may occasionally be identified after publication. PJC therefore follows transparent procedures for issuing corrections, retractions, and Expressions of Concern, guided by the principles and relevant guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

These procedures apply to all published content, including research articles, review articles, short communications, editorials, and other scholarly contributions. Authors, editors, reviewers, readers, and other interested parties are encouraged to notify the Editorial Office of significant errors or suspected breaches of publication ethics in a published article. Concerns may be submitted to the Editor-in-Chief or Editorial Office with sufficient information and supporting evidence to allow the matter to be assessed.

If there are valid doubts or suspicions regarding a published article, the editors may issue an Expression of Concern to notify readers of potentially misleading information. Note that an Expression of Concern can affect a researcher’s reputation similarly to a retraction, so it is generally advisable to delay retraction until an independent investigation clarifies the situation.are mechanisms used at  the Pakistan Journal of Chemistry to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record:

1. Corrections: These are issued when an article contains errors or inaccuracies that do not invalidate its overall findings but require clarification or amendment. Examples include typographical errors, minor data inaccuracies, or updates to author information. Corrections are usually published as a separate note linked to the original Article.
2. Retractions: These are issued when significant issues are identified that compromise the validity, integrity, or reliability of the Article’s content. Retractions may occur due to problems such as Plagiarism, data fabrication, ethical violations, or serious methodological flaws. A retraction notice explains the reasons and is permanently linked to the original Article.

3. Expression of Concern: If there are valid doubts or suspicions regarding a published article, the editors may issue an Expression of Concern to notify readers of potentially misleading information. Note that an Expression of Concern can affect a researcher’s reputation similarly to a retraction, so it is generally advisable to delay retraction until an independent investigation clarifies the situation.

All processes aim to ensure transparency, accountability, and trust in scholarly communication.

Post-Publication Corrections

A correction is appropriate when an error or omission in a published article affects the accuracy, completeness, or clarity of the published record but does not invalidate the principal findings, conclusions, or overall reliability of the article.

Examples may include:

• factual or numerical errors that do not alter the principal conclusions;
• errors in tables, figures, captions, references, or supplementary information;
• incorrect author information, affiliations, or other publication metadata;
• errors introduced during the production or publication process; and
• other substantive inaccuracies that require formal correction of the published record.

Minor typographical, grammatical, or formatting errors that do not affect the meaning, interpretation, or integrity of the article may not require a formal correction.

Correction Procedure

When a correction is requested or identified, PJC will follow these steps:

1. Receipt of concern: The correction request may be submitted by an author, editor, reviewer, reader, or other appropriate party.
2. Preliminary assessment: The Editor-in-Chief or a designated editor will assess the nature and significance of the reported error.
3. Author consultation: Where appropriate, the authors will be contacted and asked to provide an explanation and supporting information.
4. Editorial decision: The editor will determine whether a formal correction is required and whether the proposed amendment is adequate.
5. Publication of correction: When approved, a clearly identified correction/corrigendum notice will be published and permanently linked to the original article.
6. Maintenance of the record: The correction will clearly identify the article being corrected and describe the relevant amendment. The original article will remain part of the scholarly record unless there is a separate reason for retraction or removal.

Corrections are issued without charge to authors.

Retractions & Expressions of Concern

Retraction is an exceptional editorial action used when a published article is determined to contain information that is sufficiently unreliable, unethical, or seriously compromised that the article should no longer be considered part of the reliable scholarly literature.

PJC may consider retraction when there is clear evidence of one or more of the following:

• major errors that invalidate the results or conclusions;
• fabrication or falsification of data or results;
• serious or confirmed plagiarism;
• substantial image manipulation or falsification;
• duplicate or redundant publication that materially affects the scholarly record;
• serious methodological or analytical problems that invalidate the principal findings;
• research conducted without required ethical approval where such approval was necessary;
• serious breaches of research or publication ethics;
• manipulation of the peer-review or publication process;
• undisclosed issues that substantially compromise the integrity or reliability of the article; or
• other circumstances in which the published findings can no longer be considered reliable.

Retraction does not necessarily imply that every author was responsible for the problem. Where appropriate, the retraction notice will distinguish between the reasons for retraction and the responsibility of individual authors.

Retraction Procedure

When a potentially serious problem is identified, PJC will undertake an appropriate assessment before making a final decision.

1. Initial assessment: The Editor-in-Chief or designated editor will assess the concern and determine whether further investigation is warranted.
2. Evidence gathering: The Journal may request relevant information, explanations, original data, laboratory records, ethical approvals, permissions, or other documentation from the authors.
3. Author notification: The corresponding author and, where appropriate, other affected authors will be informed of the concern and given a reasonable opportunity to respond.
4. Editorial investigation: The Journal will evaluate the available evidence and may consult independent experts, members of the Editorial Board, or relevant specialists where necessary.
5. Institutional referral: Where the matter concerns suspected research misconduct, PJC may refer the case to the authors’ institution, employer, funder, ethics committee, or other appropriate authority. The Journal may request the outcome of an institutional investigation where relevant.
6. Decision: The Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the appropriate editorial authority, will determine whether correction, retraction, an Expression of Concern, or another editorial action is appropriate.
7. Retraction notice: If retraction is approved, a clearly identified retraction notice will be published, stating the reason(s) for the retraction and providing a complete citation and link to the original article.
8. Article status: The original article will remain accessible where possible to preserve the scholarly record, but it will be clearly marked “RETRACTED” on the article and associated versions. The retraction notice will be permanently linked to the original publication.
9. Indexing and notification: Where appropriate, PJC may notify relevant indexing services, databases, institutions, funders, or other stakeholders of the retraction.

Retraction notices will be published as promptly as reasonably possible once the editorial decision has been finalized.

PJC follows relevant COPE guidance on retractions when determining appropriate editorial action.

Expression of Concern

An Expression of Concern (EoC) may be issued when the Journal has substantial concerns about the reliability, integrity, or ethical status of a published article, but the available evidence is not yet sufficient to justify immediate retraction.

An Expression of Concern may be appropriate when:

• a credible allegation of serious misconduct has been received;
• an investigation by the Journal or an author’s institution is ongoing;
• important evidence required to reach a final decision is unavailable or inconclusive;
• there is a substantial unresolved concern regarding the reliability of the published findings; or
• circumstances prevent the Journal from reaching a final editorial decision within a reasonable period.

Expression of Concern Procedure

1. The Editor-in-Chief or designated editor assesses the reported concern.
2. The Journal may contact the authors and request an explanation or supporting documentation.
3. Where appropriate, the Journal may seek information from the authors’ institution, funder, ethics committee, or other relevant authority.
4. If significant concerns remain while an investigation is ongoing or the evidence is inconclusive, the Journal may publish an Expression of Concern.
5. The Expression of Concern will clearly identify the affected article, describe the nature of the concern in an objective manner, and inform readers that the matter has not yet reached a final resolution.
6. The notice will be permanently linked to the published article.
7. Following completion of the investigation, PJC will reassess the article and may issue a correction, retraction, or other appropriate editorial notice, depending on the findings.

An Expression of Concern does not by itself establish that research misconduct has occurred. Its purpose is to alert readers to a significant unresolved concern while protecting the integrity of the scholarly record.

Corrigendum

We take the integrity of our publication record seriously and issue corrigenda to correct any factual errors identified. The procedure for issuing a corrigendum involves the following steps:

1. Review: Upon receiving a correction request, the relevant individual(s) will assess the proposed changes and determine if a corrigendum is warranted.
2. Cost: Issuing a corrigendum is free of charge.
3. Distinction: The corrigendum will be clearly distinguishable from retractions and expressions of concern.
4. Significance: Only significant errors that impact the published data directly or indirectly will be considered. Minor grammatical, textual, or spelling errors will not be addressed through this process.
5. Publication: The corrigendum will be linked to the original Article it corrects.

We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of scientific accuracy and accountability and appreciate the support of our authors, researchers, and readers in upholding these principles.

Articles or parts of articles may be removed or obscured under two specific circumstances: legal infringements or serious health risks due to false or inaccurate data. In such cases, a retraction will be issued to preserve bibliographic information for the scientific record, accompanied by a detailed explanation of the removal or withdrawal.