At least four journal articles published in international journals by authors from COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, and other institutions have been retracted over claims of ‘systematic manipulation of the publication process.’
Of the four retracted papers, two were PhD theses and one was a master’s thesis. Each paper has multiple authors, including those from other Pakistani and international universities. While not all authors may have been involved in fraudulent practices, The Express Tribune’s investigations reveal a pattern of publishing research among certain academics that has been flagged as substandard.
It is worth noting that the two papers were published in the BioMed Research International Journal, which is listed under Bael’s list of predatory publishers. Predatory publishers approach authors and offer to publish their work in exchange for fees, compromising the review process's legitimacy.
A 2023 study by the scientific journal Nature revealed that Saudi Arabia produced the greatest number of fake papers, followed by Pakistan. Wiley, the publisher of three of the four papers, has been under fire for publishing ‘fake science’. Following an investigation into its authors and reviewers, by May 2024, it had retracted 11,300 papers.
More: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2474350/cui-faces-retractions-over-research-fraud
