Positive Public Administration: Lessons for Pakistan

Positive Public Administration (PPA) is a discourse that recalibrates the perspectives on public administration by refocusing attention towards the optimistic and the good. The recent publication of the volume ‘Pathways to Positive Public Administration’ (2024) offers the broadest coverage of this discourse. The 27 contributions in the book by scholars from five continents make a compelling case for the value of PPA as an intellectual and practical endeavour. Drawing inspiration from the publication, CASS hosted a Zoom webinar as part of its Catalyst Conversation Series on 8 October 2024 titled ‘Positive Public Administration: Lessons for Pakistan.’ The webinar invited insights from Professor Janine O’Flynn, Director, Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University and one of the editors of the book, and Dr Usman W. Chohan, Advisor on Economic Affairs & National Development at CASS, who contributed a chapter on Pakistan’s response to the COVID-19 Pandemic through the lens of PPA. The talk focused on two major themes, ‘Pathways to Positive Public Administration: The Discourse and Compendium’ and ‘Lessons from Positive Public Administration for Pakistan.’ The discussion centred on how PPA principles are powerful and valuable, and how they can inspire reforms and foster effective governance, enhancing public value in administrative systems through positive approaches. Strategies for fostering resilience, innovation, and public trust in Pakistan were explored, with the aim of bolstering public institutions through positivity. The concluding remarks were delivered by President CASS Air Marshal Javaid Ahmed (Retd).