ISLAMABAD: The Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS) Islamabad organized a virtual book launch of the book “Public Value and the Post-Pandemic Society” by CASS adviser for economic affairs and national development Dr. Usman W. Chohan and published with Routledge.
The launch marked the sixth book by Dr. Chohan for the past five years and is a continuation of his earlier work titled ‘Pandemic and Public Value Management’.
Launching the book and its author, Ms. Zahra Niazi, Research Assistant at CASS, shared how the book draws on Public Values Theory and sheds light on the potential for multi-stakeholder value co-creation, highlighting the contributions of civil society, public managers, politicians, and the wider community in the post-pandemic era.
Presentation of his book by the author, Dr. Usman W. Chohan, emphasized that companies are undergoing changes that reflect the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic hardships in many of the cases were worse than the pandemic itself. Using Pakistan as a case study, Dr Chohan noted that the nation had effectively managed the pandemic through a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders, including the government and the wider society.
This cooperation has put Pakistan in a favorable position in its rapid return to normalcy. However, the subsequent post-pandemic period presented significant challenges for the country. In addition, he suggested that domestic and international asymmetries and inequalities have worsened significantly after the pandemic.
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As a way forward, he emphasized that in the pursuit of a more cohesive public value, it was essential to emphasize the importance of leadership collaboration at different levels, international, national and regional. Such leadership should prioritize fulfilment, synergy across different stages of operation. In parallel, there was an urgent need increase the versatility and capacity of public health institutions and enable them to achieve across different industries.
In his view, this could be achieved by promoting a holistic engagement approach that includes all actors, from the private sector to civil society.
“In this way, decision-making becomes more evidence-based and draws on wealth diverse inputs. In addition, it becomes essential to proactively work with the marginalized
commonwealth. The values of timeliness and transparency should be respected in all these efforts
be followed as guiding principles,” he concluded.
The launch of the book was attended by researchers and online participants from academia who highlighted the book’s remarkable and fundamental contribution to literature.
