Dr Abdul Samad

Abdul Samad is a Pakistani archaeologist and civil servant. He serves as the Director General of Archaeology and Museums in the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He is also the Project Director of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Tourism Development (KITE) Project, a project supported by the World Bank.

Samad previously served as Secretary for Tourism, Culture, Archaeology and Museums in the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. His work has focused on the archaeology of Gandhara, the archaeology of the Kalash valleys, cultural heritage conservation, and museum management. He has participated in archaeological excavations, heritage conservation projects, and museum development initiatives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In 2018, Samad received the Pride of Performance award from the Government of Pakistan in recognition of his contributions to archaeology and cultural heritage.

Early Life and Education

Abdul Samad was born in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

He received a Ph.D. in Archaeology from the Free University of Berlin, Germany. His doctoral research examined the emergence of Hinduism in ancient Gandhara using archaeological evidence.

He later completed a Fulbright postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the United States, where he conducted research in archaeology and cultural heritage.

Academic Career

Before joining the civil service, Abdul Samad taught archaeology at Hazara University in Mansehra, where he served as a faculty member for several years. His teaching and research focused on the archaeology of South Asia, Gandhara, Buddhist archaeology, and cultural heritage management.

His research has examined the archaeology of Gandhara, the Kalash valleys, Hindu iconography, and the conservation of archaeological sites in northwestern Pakistan.

Samad has held academic appointments and research fellowships at institutions including Tsinghua University in China and the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the United States.

Archaeological Research and Excavations

Abdul Samad has directed and participated in archaeological excavations, conservation projects, and heritage management initiatives in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with a particular focus on the archaeology of Gandhara and the Buddhist heritage of northwestern Pakistan.

He has been associated with the archaeological excavations at the Bhamala Buddhist Complex in Haripur District. The excavations, carried out in collaboration with Hazara University, the Directorate General of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison, led to the discovery of a monumental reclining Buddha (Parinirvana) statue, along with terracotta sculptures, stucco figures, coins, inscriptions, and architectural remains dating to the Kushan period.

Samad has also contributed to archaeological research and conservation projects at sites including Gor Khatri, Takht-i-Bahi, and Sethi House in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Tourism Development (KITE) Project

Abdul Samad serves as the Project Director of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Tourism Development (KITE) Project, a tourism development initiative of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa supported by the World Bank.

As Project Director, he has overseen projects related to heritage conservation, tourism infrastructure, museum development, and the management of archaeological sites in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Under the project, conservation and rehabilitation work has been undertaken at sites including Bhamala Stupa, Jamrud Fort, Gor Khatri, Peshawar Museum, Sethi House, Mardan Museum, Hund Museum, and Chakdara Museum.

The project has also supported the preparation of destination management plans, the development of Integrated Tourism Zones, and initiatives promoting responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, and community participation in tourism development.

Publications

• Samad, Abdul (2012). Emergence of Hinduism in Gandhara: An Analysis of Material Culture. Doctoral dissertation. Free University of Berlin.

• Samad, Abdul (2020). Emergence of Hinduism in Gandhara. Lahore: Sang-e-Meel Publications. ISBN 9789693532814.

• Samad, Abdul; et al. (2020). Discovery of Earliest Monumental Parinirvaṇa Image. Journal of Asian Civilizations, Vol. 43.

• Samad, Abdul; et al. Terracotta Sculptures from Bhamala, Taxila: New Chronology Based on Radiocarbon Dates and Comparative Analyses. Gandharan Studies, Vol. 13.

• Samad, Abdul; et al. (2018). Bhamala Excavations 2015–16: A Preliminary Report. Ancient Pakistan, Vol. 29.