Dr. Abdul Samad, Director General & Secretary, Directorate of Archaeology & Museums, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Dr. Abdul Samad hails from Jungle Khel, Kohat, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He completed his early education in Kohat and went on to pursue higher studies at the University of Peshawar, where he earned an M.A. in Archaeology, graduating first in his class and winning a gold medal for his outstanding academic performance.
He was awarded a DAAD scholarship to pursue his Ph.D. at the Institute of South Asian Languages & Cultures, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, specializing in Gandhara art, numismatics, and South Asian languages & cultures. He also studied Sanskrit and took a certificate course in World Heritage Studies & Cultural Management at the Technical University of Cottbus, Germany. He completed his PhD in 2011.
Academic
Dr. Samad spent nearly ten years teaching at Hazara University, Mansehra, in the Department of Archaeology and in the School of Cultural Heritage & Creative Technologies. He also served as Head of Department during his tenure. While there, he introduced Heritage Management as a subject and supervised several graduate research students.
Appointment & Role in Archaeology & Museums, KP
In June 2014, Dr. Abdul Samad was appointed as Director of the Directorate of Archaeology & Museums, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He was among the youngest ever to assume that position. He holds the title Director General & Secretary. In these capacities, he is responsible for oversight of archaeological site surveying, excavation, conservation, restoration, and the management of museums across the province.
Major Contributions & Achievements
Research & Published Works:
Dr. Samad has published his book Emergence of Hinduism in Gandhara: Analyses of Material Culture (Freie Universität Berlin, 2012) along with many peer-reviewed articles nationally and internationally.
Site Discoveries & Archaeology Survey:
He is credited with discovering over 200 new archaeological sites in Chitral Valley alone, and other unrecorded sites across KP. Also, his department made a significant find at Babu Dehri, Swabi: hundreds of Buddhist-period artifacts, including a large stupa, dating back around 1,800 years.
Heritage Conservation & Modern Techniques:
Under his leadership, the Directorate has introduced archaeological survey innovations in Pakistan, used new excavation techniques for Buddhist sites, improved conservation practices, and pushed for stronger legal protection of antiquities.
Digital Heritage Initiatives:
He founded the Digital Heritage Center, a platform for digital documentation, 3D modeling, geospatial informatics, virtual reconstructions, and virtual public access to heritage. The Directorate has also launched projects for digital conservation and 3D scanning of important monuments like Takht-i-Bahi and the Julian Stupa & Monastery at Khanpur.
Promoting Religious / Multicultural Tourism:
Dr. Samad has played a role in restoring Sikh-era monuments, like the Samadhi of Akali Phoola Singh in Nowshera. He emphasizes KP’s potential as a destination for religious tourism by conserving sites tied to Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu, and indigenous histories.
Awards & Recognition:
He has been awarded government honours, including the Presidential Pride of Performance, in recognition of his services in archaeology.