In his home country of Pakistan, they call him “the Prince of Pop.’’ He models in commercials, stars in TV dramas and sitcoms, acts in feature films, and sings wildly popular tunes that have pushed genre boundaries and transfixed millions of listeners.

But on this side of the world, Ali Zafar is hardly known. The 29-year-old singer has ventured to the United States only twice before. With his latest tour, which arrives at the Berklee Performance Center this evening, Zafar hopes to win over new fans with an East-meets-West brew that fuses traditional Punjabi folk melodies and Pakistani classical influences with electric guitars and drum machines.

Speaking via phone just hours after landing in the States for his first American tour since 2007, Zafar had hit the ground running. Ever the multitasker, he spent much of the interview sprinting around Arena Theater in Houston sound-checking instruments for that evening’s show. “There’s a lot to do,’’ he gushes with a frazzled combination of excitement and jet-lag.

The busy itinerary is nothing new for Zafar, a type-A personality who says he’s always known that he would be a star. Growing up the son of two college professors in Lahore, Zafar was exposed to a diverse array of art forms spanning literature, painting, and music. “It was great to be in a home that truly encouraged these pursuits,’’ he says. “Creativity is something that was ingrained in me from an early age.’’

Indeed, before finding success with his music career, Zafar had dabbled in professional modeling, appeared on several TV shows and even studied to be a painter at the acclaimed National College of Arts. Barely a year after graduating in 2002, he had recorded his debut album, “Huqa Pani,’’ which – spurred by hit singles “Channo’’ and “Rangeen’’ – turned the talented, photogenic Zafar into a national icon and ultimately sold 5 million copies worldwide.

For Zafar, his sudden ascension to celebrity status didn’t sink in until his first large-scale concert in Lahore. “I will always remember walking onstage and seeing this enormous crowd of thousands of people singing along to every word of my songs,’’ he says. “It was an amazing, unforgettable moment.’’

On his 2006 follow-up, “Masty,’’ Zafar graduated from the more straightforward pop of “Huqa Pani,’’ adopting an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink mentality that reflected influences ranging from Sufi folk to Eric Clapton. “Sajania,’’ for example, memorably melds rock guitars, electronica beats, a radio-ready English-language melody, and a shouted hook that wouldn’t be out of place on a T-Pain track. Zafar says he has been pleasantly surprised by listeners’ open-mindedness to his more recent eclecticism. “When I was experimenting with these sounds, I basically did it for me,’’ he says. “I assumed it wouldn’t translate for the masses – but it really has.’’

Today’s concert, which caps an eight-city cross-country tour, represents the singer’s first time in Beantown. (“I don’t know much about Boston,’’ he concedes shyly. “But I’ve heard that it is a great city to be in.’’) Zafar is relieved by the warm response he has gotten from the 2009 trip, particularly after past US tours in which his nationality all too often made him feel like an unwelcome outsider. “Right after 9/11, the reception wasn’t very pleasant,’’ he says. “You could sense this vibe that people didn’t want you to be there.’’

It was partly that original chilliness, however, that inspired Zafar’s return to the States. With so many recent news reports from Pakistan fixated on political turmoil and terrorist attacks, he hopes his tour will help Americans realize that the people of Pakistan lead normal, joyous lives filled with music, dancing, and culture.

“I would like to connect with my fans here, put on some memorable shows, and also be a kind of cultural spokesman for my country,’’ he says. “The idea is to give the youth of Pakistan something that they can be proud of.’’