The Journal of Contemporary Perspectives in Management and Social Sciences (JCP) is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct throughout the publication process. This section defines the ethical responsibilities of authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher, in accordance with the following:

• The journal’s internal ethical policies
• The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan’s ethical standards for scholarly journals
• Internationally recognized guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)

Responsibilities of Authors

Originality and Plagiarism
Authors must submit only original work. All sources of information must be properly cited. Manuscripts must undergo plagiarism screening prior to submission. The acceptable similarity index follows HEC’s policy: less than 19%, with no single source exceeding 5%. Plagiarism in any form is considered unethical and will not be tolerated.

Data Integrity and Fabrication
Data must be presented accurately and transparently. Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data constitutes unethical behavior and is strictly prohibited.

Multiple or Redundant Publications
Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously. Republishing previously published work without proper citation or justification is unethical.

Acknowledgment of Sources
All contributors, supporting institutions, and funding agencies must be properly acknowledged.

Authorship and Contribution
Only individuals who have made a significant contribution to the research should be listed as authors. All listed authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and consent to its submission.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure
Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence the research process or its interpretation.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Competence and Availability
Reviewers should accept invitations only if they have the required subject expertise and are able to complete the review within the specified timeframe.

Confidentiality
Manuscripts under review must be treated as confidential documents. Reviewers must not share, discuss, or use the content for personal advantage.

Objectivity and Constructive Feedback
Reviews must be objective, professional, and free from personal bias. Personal criticism of the author is inappropriate. Reviewers must provide a clear recommendation (accept, minor revision, major revision, or reject).

Acknowledgment of Sources
Reviewers should identify relevant published work not cited by the authors.

Conflict of Interest
Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could affect their judgment. If a conflict exists, reviewers should decline the review invitation.

Responsibilities of Editors

Publication Decisions
Editorial decisions must be based on the scholarly merit of the manuscript and its alignment with the journal’s aims and scope.

Fair Review Process
The peer-review process must be managed fairly, promptly, and confidentially. All manuscripts should be evaluated without bias related to race, gender, institutional affiliation, or political beliefs.

Handling Unethical Practices
Editors are responsible for investigating all allegations of unethical behavior, including plagiarism, data fabrication, and authorship disputes. When necessary, the editorial board will issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern in accordance with best publication practices.