The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan has taken several steps to improve the quality of research in universities. One major initiative is the recognition of local journals and the organization of capacity-building workshops for their editors.
HEC has recognized many national and international journals to create publishing opportunities for researchers. Despite these efforts, there is still a clear gap between the quality of research published in Pakistani journals and the research that appears in top tier international outlets.
Most Pakistani journals are institution based. They are managed by universities or societies that often have limited editorial and technical capacity. Many editorial and advisory boards look impressive on paper but remain inactive in practice. Once consent is taken from a member, the role often becomes symbolic. Many journals also charge publication fees with the promise of quick review and publication, which raises concerns about quality control.
Although local journals publish a large number of papers every year, they rarely attract international readership. The quality of many papers discourages serious researchers. As a result, these journals have low visibility and low citation impact.
Only a few Pakistani journals are indexed in the major global databases such as Web of Science, Science Citation Index Expanded, Social Sciences Citation Index, Arts and Humanities Citation Index, Emerging Sources Citation Index, and Scopus. These agencies serve as international benchmarks for credibility. Is HEC’s journal recognition system comparable to these global standards? Even though its revised policy-2025 sets an application fee of Rs 25,000 for government institutions and Rs 50,000 for private institutions.
Although local journals publish a large number of papers every year, they rarely attract international readership.
Journals published by leading international publishers such as Cambridge, Elsevier, Emerald, Oxford, Routledge, Sage, Springer, Taylor and Francis, and Wiley follow strict editorial policies. They maintain transparent peer review systems and include diverse and active scholars on their editorial boards. Anyone who has published in these journals or worked with them understands the level of rigor they demand. Most of these journals are indexed by well-known agencies because they meet the global standards that Pakistani journals often struggle to achieve. Several factors contribute to this disparity. Editorial and peer review processes in many local journals are weak. Reviews are often informal, lack anonymity, and provide limited feedback. International collaboration is rare. Authors seldom work with foreign scholars or engage with global debates, which limits diversity and intellectual exchange. Pakistani journals also publish very few special issues that address contemporary research themes emerging from national or international conferences. Research training and academic writing skills are still developing in many universities. Without proper mentoring, young authors find it difficult to meet the expectations of top journals. This leads to a rejection rate of over ninety percent for our indigenous research in these journals.
Instead of improving their scientific research skills, many authors prefer to publish books with local publishers. Or they spend large amounts of money to publish in open access international journals. This keeps them floating in the academic discourse, as the pressure to publish or leave the university continues to grow, especially in mid- and lower-tier institutions in the private sector.
At the same time, access to leading research databases in Pakistan is limited because few universities can afford subscriptions. Interestingly, some institutions spend money on shortcuts that may help them perform better in QS and THE rankings. These cosmetic measures may improve their score, but they do not lift academic or research standards.
Ethical publishing infrastructure is another major gap. Many journals do not fully align with COPE guidelines. Their digital presence is weak and they often lack DOIs and proper metadata. These elements are essential for global indexing.
Being indexed in reputed agencies brings major benefits. It ensures worldwide visibility, which increases the chances of being read, cited, and recognized. This visibility improves citation counts and enhances the scholarly reputation of both authors and journals. Indexing agencies also act as quality filters. They evaluate editorial practices, peer review transparency, ethical standards, and publication regularity. Once a journal is indexed, it signals that it follows international norms.
For individual researchers, publishing in indexed journals improves academic credibility and supports career progression. Institutions also benefit because indexed publications strengthen their position in global rankings. Journals that are indexed attract better submissions, more international collaborations, and greater opportunities for funding.
To achieve global indexing, Pakistani journals need structural reform. The issue goes beyond HEC’s bureaucratic guidelines. It is paradoxical that those who draft and enforce publication instructions have never experienced publishing in top-tier journals themselves.
Pakistani universities must take publication standards seriously. Instead of merely aiming for HEC recognition, they should develop transparent editorial policies that ensure editors are independent and trained in international publishing practices. Editors must be active researchers with proven academic competence. They must also maintain a regular publication schedule, as indexing agencies closely monitor punctuality. Ethical compliance is essential, and alignment with COPE must be non-negotiable.
Upgrading technical systems is also critical. Platforms such as Open Journal Systems allow journals to assign DOIs, manage metadata, and maintain functional websites. Integration with ORCID and cross-referencing databases improves visibility. Journals should expand their editorial boards by adding active foreign scholars and should encourage international co-authorship to broaden perspectives.
If HEC is serious about improving research quality, it must also revise its incentive system. Instead of focusing on the number of recognized journals, it should focus on quality, impact, and indexing success. Financial and technical support should go to journals that meet global criteria. The current seed funding of Rs 250,000 for new journals is far too low and does little to support quality publishing.
Pakistan’s research environment is growing, but quality assurance remains a major challenge. The goal should not be to produce more papers but to produce better papers that can pass global scrutiny and contribute to international knowledge and scholarship. The shift from local recognition to global impact requires investment, transparent systems, and a shared commitment to academic integrity. Many international universities improve their research profile by affiliating with reputed publishers. The partnership between LUMS’s Asian Journal of Management Cases and Sage is a useful example for other institutions. If HEC cannot help Pakistani journals meet the standards required for indexing in major agencies even after several years, then the question becomes unavoidable, what is happening in the system, and who will evaluate HEC’s performance?
The first author is a Professor of English at Riphah International University, Lahore. He is a lead guest editor at Emerald and Springer publishing.
The second author is an Assistant Professor of English at Govt. Graduate College for Women, Samanabad, Lahore