Veteran Pakistani actor, director and television host Samina Peerzada has called for visa-on-arrival facilities between Pakistan and India, saying she wants ordinary citizens on both sides of the border to reconnect more easily with friends and loved ones.
Speaking in a recent interview, Peerzada shared an emotional message about her long-standing friendships in India and the difficulties created by travel restrictions between the two countries.
“I have so many dear friends in India, in Delhi and Mumbai. I miss them, I think about them, and my heart feels sad because I cannot meet them. I am sure they feel the same way about me. I want to see them again,” she said.
Her remarks come at a time when relations between Pakistan and India remain strained. Bilateral visa policies have become increasingly restrictive over the years, limiting cultural exchanges, tourism and people-to-people contact despite shared linguistic, historical and cultural ties.
A Wish to Meet Without Barriers
According to Peerzada, both countries should consider visa-on-arrival arrangements to simplify travel.
“It is my wish to travel to Amritsar, reach the border from our side, and receive an Indian visa there. Likewise, our friends coming from India should be able to get a visa when they arrive here,” she said.
Personal relationships should not suffer because of political differences, she added.
Artists, in her view, have always maintained connections across borders. That tradition should continue despite diplomatic challenges.
“First of all, we should spread love and keep meeting each other. As artists, we will continue to meet one another no matter what, because we will always find ways to stay connected,” she pointed out.
She also questioned the barriers that prevent such meetings at home.
Pakistanis and Indians often meet in cities such as London and Dubai. Yet visiting one another’s cities remains difficult.
“I sincerely hope that if we can continue meeting in foreign countries, whether in London, Dubai, or elsewhere, then why can’t we meet in Lahore? Why can’t we meet in Delhi? Why can’t we meet in Mumbai? Why can’t we meet in Karachi?”
Her comments reflect a view often expressed by artists, writers and cultural figures from both countries, many of whom have advocated greater cultural engagement despite political tensions.
A Career Spanning Five Decades
Samina Peerzada remains one of Pakistan’s most respected names in film, television and theatre.
Peerzada began her career as a model in 1974. Later, she moved into acting and gained recognition through films such as Nazdikiyan, Bulandi and The Blood of Hussain.
Television audiences know her for acclaimed dramas including Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Dastaan and Durr-e-Shahwar. She later expanded her career into directing and filmmaking.
Her 1999 film Inteha won nine national awards and introduced actor Humayun Saeed to Pakistani cinema.
In 2017, Peerzada launched the YouTube interview series Rewind with Samina Peerzada. The show featured candid conversations with leading Pakistani celebrities and quickly became one of the country’s most-watched digital talk shows.
While political leaders continue to navigate complex diplomatic issues, Peerzada’s message focused on a simpler goal: allowing people separated by borders to reconnect with friends, family members and cultural communities they have known for years.
