Submission Preparation Checklist

Manuscripts must be prepared in English or Urdu and submitted in Microsoft Word format. Please ensure that your manuscript adheres to the journal's formatting guidelines, including font size, margins, line spacing, and citation style. Each manuscript should include a title, an abstract (150-250 words), 3-5 keywords, an introduction, methodology (if applicable), results, discussion, conclusion, and references.

Figures, tables, and other visual elements should be clearly labeled and of high quality. Captions should be provided, and proper citation must be included if any material is adapted or reproduced from other sources.

Authors are responsible for obtaining permissions for any copyrighted material included in their manuscripts.

Authors must ensure their submission meets the following criteria. Submissions that do not comply may be returned for revision:

1. The submission has not been previously published and is not under consideration by another journal (or an explanation has been provided in the Comments to the Editor).
2. The submission file is in OpenOffice, Microsoft Word, or RTF format.
3. URLs for references, when available, have been included.
4. The text is single-spaced, uses a 12-point font, employs italics instead of underlining (except for URLs), and all illustrations, figures, and tables are included within the text at appropriate points.
5. The text follows the stylistic and bibliographic guidelines outlined in the Author Guidelines.

Author Guidelines

Manuscript Preparation
Manuscripts must be typed in English using 12-point Times New Roman font, 1.5 line spacing, on A4 paper with 3 cm margins on all sides. Use MS Word (Office 2010, 2013, or 2016 for Windows) for preparation. Manuscripts should not exceed 15 printed pages (including figures, references, and tables) and must be numbered starting from the title page. Follow the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th edition for presentation and reference formatting. Articles in Urdu are also welcome.

Title Page
The title page should include:

• A concise and informative title.
• Author’s surname with first and middle initials.
• Authors' highest qualifications and main area of research.
• Institutional address, including telephone and email.
• A short running title (max. 6 words).

Abstract
An abstract of 200-250 words is required, along with up to 5 keywords. The abstract should summarize the purpose, methods, major results, and conclusions of the study, typed on a separate page with single line spacing. Abbreviations should be defined or omitted.

Text Structure
The text should include the following headings, using 1.5 line spacing: Introduction, Objectives/Hypothesis, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions, Acknowledgements, and References.

• Introduction: Begin on a new page, providing background, stating the problem and purpose, and citing relevant references.
• Literature Review: Include a concise and critical overview of the relevant field.
• Materials and Methods: Provide comprehensive details about study participants, ethics/informed consent, instrumentation, research design, validity and reliability estimates, data collection procedures, and statistical methods.
• Results: Present findings clearly, with tables and figures either at the end or indicated within the text. Use SI units and avoid repeating information from the discussion.
• Discussion: Reflect on significant aspects and causes of the study, avoiding repetition from the results section. Cite relevant references to support findings.
• Conclusion: Summarize the main conclusions based on the findings.
• Acknowledgement: Include acknowledgments if necessary at the end of the text.

References
Follow APA style for citations and references, listing only those cited in the text in alphabetical order. Do not number references.

Examples of citations:

• For one or two authors: (Ali, 2014); (Ali & Waheed, 2012).
• For three or more authors (first citation): (Waheed, Ali, Muntazir, & Safdar, 2013); subsequent citations: (Waheed et al., 2013).
• Multiple references should be cited chronologically (e.g., (Waheed & Safdar, 1982; Farhan & Muntazir, 1992; etc.)).

Proofreading
Accepted manuscripts will be returned for final corrections. Corrected proofs should be sent back to the Chief Editor within one week. If no response is received, publication will proceed.

Copyright Agreement
Authors must assign copyright of accepted manuscripts to PLISJ, ensuring protection for both parties. Requests for permission to use copyrighted materials should be directed to the Editor.

Ethical Responsibilities
Authors are responsible for the content of their work. All articles undergo plagiarism checks. Any ethical issues should be reported to the Editor-in-Chief.

Reporting Standards
Authors should provide accurate accounts of their research and sufficient detail for replication. Misrepresentation of data or findings is unethical.

Data Access and Retention
Authors may need to provide raw data for editorial review and should retain data for a reasonable time post-publication.

Originality and Plagiarism
Works must be original, with proper citations for any used materials. Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable.

Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication
Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals is unethical. Secondary publications require prior agreement and citation of the primary source.

Acknowledgment of Sources
Proper acknowledgment of others' work is essential. Private communications cannot be used without explicit permission.

Fair Play
Editors should evaluate manuscripts based on intellectual content without bias.

Confidentiality
Editors and staff must keep submission details confidential, only sharing with authorized individuals.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Unpublished materials from submissions cannot be used without the author's consent. Editors should recuse themselves from reviewing if there are conflicts of interest.

Involvement in Investigations
Editors should respond to ethical complaints about submissions and may need to contact relevant parties for clarification.

Peer Review Contribution
Peer review is vital for editorial decisions and authors should engage in fair reviewing.

Promptness
Reviewers who cannot provide timely assessments should notify the editor.

Standards of Objectivity
Reviews should be conducted impartially without personal criticism.

Acknowledgment of Sources
Reviewers should note relevant work not cited by authors and inform editors of substantial overlaps with other publications.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest
Reviewers should not use unpublished materials from submitted manuscripts for their own research without consent.