Dr. Pokharel had Schooling in Nepal and India. Has Ph. D. degree in Regional Planning from MIT Cambridge; Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawaii, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from, Greece. Dr. Pokharel has held several high-level public positions in Nepal. He was a Member and Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC) of Nepal for nearly a decade. and led the planning of the Three-Year Interim Plan in 2006. He has contributed to several landmark plans and policies of the country including decentralization devolution and power devolution policies of the country, targeted policies and programs for remote areas, environmental protection and infrastructure development. He has led several national high-level state delegations abroad to SAARC, World Summit, and Mountain Summit among others.

Dr. Pokharel offers a graduate course in Planning. His research interests include the understanding role of power in bargaining and negotiations and published several papers, articles and a book titled Environmental Resources Negotiation Between Unequal Powers. He has been President of the Regional and Urban Planners Society of Nepal and a life member of the Society of Architects of Nepal, Nepal Engineers Association, and Nepal Council of World Affairs. He is the immediate Past Vice Chairman Governing Board Member of the Community of Evaluators South Asia (COE SA). Dr. Pokharel is acknowledged for his commitment to democratic values and justice in society.