Samina Peerzada Calls for Visa-on-Arrival Between Pakistan and India
Islamabad: Renowned Pakistani actress, director, and television host Samina Peerzada has expressed her desire for Pakistan and India to introduce visa-on-arrival facilities for ordinary citizens, saying easier travel would help strengthen human and cultural connections across the border.
In a recent interview, Peerzada revealed that she has several close friends in Indian cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, with whom she has maintained long-standing friendships. However, travel restrictions have prevented her from meeting them in person, something she says causes her great sadness.
The veteran actress said she often thinks about her friends and believes they feel the same longing to reconnect. Speaking emotionally, she shared her wish to one day travel to Amritsar and obtain a visa at the border, while also hoping that Indian visitors could receive similar visa-on-arrival facilities when traveling to Pakistan.
Peerzada emphasized that, for her, the issue is not merely political or diplomatic but deeply human and emotional. She argued that while artists and creative professionals often find ways to meet in different countries around the world, ordinary people should be granted the same opportunity.
“If people can travel to places like London or Dubai to meet each other, then there is no reason why meetings between friends and families in Lahore, Delhi, Mumbai, and Karachi should not be possible,” she said.
Her remarks have sparked discussion on social media, where many users have viewed her comments in the context of promoting cultural exchanges and strengthening people-to-people ties between Pakistan and India.
The actress’s statement has resonated with supporters of greater regional connectivity, who believe that easier travel could help foster understanding and friendship among citizens on both sides of the border.
