Samiya Mumtaz trained as a Bharatanatyam dancer in Pakistan and India, and has been part of a number of dance performances in her home city of Lahore.

In 1993, she joined Ajoka Theatre, a group dedicated to doing street and proscenium plays focussed on bringing social justice. She worked with Ajoka on more than 20 productions primarily as an actor, and occasionally as a director till 2010.

Samiya started appearing on TV as a child on children's music and art shows. In 1993 she did her first full-length TV serial as a central character. Since then, she has appeared in more than 20 TV serials, and continues to act for TV.

Samiya has also acted in a number of feature films, including three that have been chosen as Pakistan's entry for the Foreign Language Film Category at the Oscars.

Along with her acting commitments, Samiya also runs a full-time mixed Organic Farm.