Accessibility & Open Access Policy

Pakistan Social Sciences Review (PSSR) is committed to providing an inclusive, barrier-free digital environment for readers, researchers, and visitors, including individuals using assistive technologies. We continuously optimize our platform to align with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards to ensure smooth navigation across all devices.

Digital Accessibility Standards

PSSR publishes scholarly content in standard digital formats, including search-enabled HTML and accessible PDF documents hosted on Open Journal Systems (OJS). Platform accessibility features include:

  • Structured heading hierarchies and screen-reader compatible document layouts.
  • Legible, high-contrast typography designed for digital reading.
  • Keyboard-navigable menus and page structures.

If you encounter difficulty accessing any manuscript, figure, or table, or if you require a document in an alternative format, please contact our support team at editor@pssr.org.pk. We will make every reasonable effort to provide an accessible file promptly.

Open Access Statement & Licensing

PSSR is a fully open-access journal. In accordance with the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) standards, all published articles are freely available online immediately upon publication without embargo periods, paywalls, or user registration requirements.

All research published in PSSR is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).

Under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license, readers are free to:

  • Share: Copy, redistribute, and transmit the material in any medium or format.
  • Adapt: Remix, transform, and build upon the material.

License Terms & Conditions:

  • Attribution: You must give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and source, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made.
  • NonCommercial: You may not use the material for commercial purposes without prior permission from the copyright holders.

Digital Preservation & Persistent Access

To ensure permanent availability and long-term digital preservation of the academic record, PSSR utilizes robust archiving systems:

  • Digital Object Identifiers: Each article is assigned a unique Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for permanent linking, tracking, and citation stability.
  • Digital Archiving: Journal content is archived in secondary digital repositories, including the PKP Preservation Network (PKP PN / LOCKSS) and the Internet Archive, ensuring uninterrupted access even in the event of platform migration.

Policy Inquiries

For questions regarding licensing, permissions, or web accessibility, email the editorial office at editor@pssr.org.pk.