With advancements and easy ways of life we have invited pollution our home. Over exploitation of the natural resources in the name of industrialization and urbanization has gifted us pollutions. The major cities of Nepal are fostering air pollution rapidly. The main sources of air pollution include industries and vehicles. While the minor includes domestic cooking fuels, refuse burning and resuspended dust particles. According to Yale University?s Environment Performance Index 2014, Nepal ranks 177th among the 178 countries rated for air quality. Among the different sources of air pollution according to International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) 2006, vehicular emissions are responsible for 38% of the total PM10(254.75) emitted in the Kathmandu compared to the agricultural sector (18%) and the brick kilns (11%). According to the Ministry of Environment report, the PM10 ( g/m3) less than 60 is good, 60-119 is moderate, 120-349 is unhealthy, 350-425 is very unhealthy, and more than 425 is hazardous for the human health. 

    While the capital city has air pollution level of 254.75  g/m3,Pokhara is not an exception. In Pokhara too, vehicular density is increasing at alarming rate, while the situation is not as worse as of Capital city. Until fiscal year 2005, 34,199 vehicles were registered in Transportation Management Office, Gandaki zone. According to Birgunj Tax Office, import of trucks and buses has increased by 300% while import of motorbikes increased by 100% in Nepal (Clean Energy, 2007). The increase in vehicular emissions is mainly due to increase in the number of automobiles, poor transport management system, and lack of vehicle maintenance among the drivers.

Besides vehicular density, unplanned urbanization increasing the number of permanent residents in the city, development of tourism etc. resulted a considerable amount of environmental pressure thus is deteriorating the air quality in Pokhara. Air quality has in one or other way severed effect in local economy, health, culture and environment. So requirement of an integrated urban development is must for the sustainability of environmental resources and heritages in Pokhara.