Former finance minister Asad Umar encouraged young people to embrace uncertainty rather than fear it, saying that learning to navigate chaos could open doors to opportunities instead of becoming an obstacle to success.
Speaking at the third edition of MediaVerse, held at the University of Karachi on Tuesday, Umar urged students to shift their focus from trying to control unpredictable circumstances to learning how to thrive within them.
Drawing an analogy with surfing, he said: “When a huge wave comes, it is like chaos. You can either learn to ride the wave and have an exhilarating experience, or you can drown.”
Umar was speaking during a panel discussion titled Balance in Chaos: A Conversation on Navigating Uncertainty, alongside television director and actor Saife Hasan, British-Pakistani actor Alyy Khan, and content creator and social entrepreneur Osamah Nasir. The discussion was moderated by Rabia Mughni, founder of Fuchsia Magazine.
The panel was part of MediaVerse ’26, organised by the Department of Mass Communication under the theme Control in Chaos at the Professor Salimuzzaman Siddiqui Auditorium of the university’s International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences.
As conversations turned to the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI), Umar encouraged students to see the technology as an opportunity rather than a threat.
“Everybody doesn’t need to become an expert in designing AI programmes, but everybody should be able to use AI to their best advantage. There’s no need to be afraid of it,” he said.
Television director Saife Hasan echoed the sentiment, highlighting how AI was already being incorporated into the entertainment industry.
“AI is a very useful tool: and we are already using it in production,” he said.
Referring to a shot in his recent drama Aapki Izzat, Hasan explained that AI had been used in its creation. He suggested that the technology could make production processes more efficient rather than necessarily replacing the people working in the industry.
However, content creator Osamah Nasir cautioned against allowing the convenience of AI to come at the expense of independent thinking.
“I have realised that recently I became dependent on AI even for the smallest task,” he said. “AI helps us finish tasks faster, but we should ask ourselves whether we are still using our brains to their full potential.”
Nasir encouraged students to use the technology purposefully, emphasising that efficiency should not come at the cost of learning, creativity or critical thinking.
The discussion also explored how individuals respond to personal and professional setbacks, and the role of spirituality in dealing with circumstances beyond their control.
Hasan stressed that faith and hard work must go hand in hand, arguing that prayer should accompany effort rather than replace it.
“I believe in hard work. You must do your part and then pray. I tell my students that hard work is like buying a lottery ticket. You must buy the ticket before you can expect a win,” he said.
Reflecting on his own professional experiences, Nasir spoke about how setbacks had helped him recognise the impact of his work on other people’s lives. He also emphasised the importance of remaining present rather than becoming consumed by past experiences or future uncertainties.
“When you live in the present, you stop constantly going back to the past or worrying about the future. You do your work. You do what needs to be done. And then you detach from the outcome,” he said.
Actor Alyy Khan, meanwhile, urged young people not to allow difficult circumstances to become an excuse for inaction.
“I think young people today have it a little easier than we did in many ways. Because of that, it can also be easier for them to make excuses. I believe in the old-school approach. Don’t use chaos as an excuse. If your surroundings feel chaotic, remember that there are many ways to calm yourself down,” he said.
Returning to the question of how young people should approach an uncertain future, Umar encouraged students to look beyond financial success and conventional measures of achievement.
He urged them to reflect on what they genuinely wanted from life, arguing that understanding their personal ambitions and values was essential to identifying meaningful opportunities.
The theme of uncertainty and perspective continued during Verse Talks, where digital content creator Junaid Akram, popularly known as Ganjiswag, reflected on how difficult experiences can acquire meaning over time.
Recalling a childhood memory of seeing the words “losing is not an option” written on a school carriage, Akram explained how a message he had barely understood at the time had stayed with him throughout his life.
He encouraged students not to judge their struggles solely by how they felt in the present, suggesting that experiences that initially appeared disappointing could later become defining moments.
“The same chaos that you are feeling today will become the reason for your serenity tomorrow,” he said.
Students from Deaf Reach presented Pakistan’s national anthem in sign language, bringing accessibility and representation into focus at the gathering.
Organised under the guidance of Syeda Mona Batool, founder and editor of MediaVerse Magazine, the event marked the third edition of the student-led initiative.
It was initially launched as a course project in 2024.
The second edition, held in 2025 under the theme MediaVerse for Change, focused on societal change, diversity and accessibility, while this year’s gathering explored how individuals can find direction and meaning in an increasingly unpredictable world.