South Asia continues to struggle with some of the world's highest levels of air pollution, particularly in the Indo-Gangetic Plains and Himalayan Foothills. According to the World Bank Group, concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in this region exceed World Health Organization safety standards by more than twenty times. This situation has significant health impacts, including a reduction in life expectancy by up to three to five years for residents in the most affected areas.
The World Bank Group is working as a development partner on air quality issues across South Asia, collaborating with governments and organizations in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. These efforts aim to reduce emissions from key sources of pollution, strengthen monitoring systems, improve protection for vulnerable groups, and encourage regional cooperation.
Regional collaboration is supported through partnerships with organizations such as the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). The Science Policy and Finance Dialogues have led to initiatives like the Kathmandu Roadmap and Thimphu Outcome. These efforts promote a shared goal known as “35 by 35,” which seeks to lower PM2.5 levels to 35 micrograms per cubic meter by 2035. If achieved, this target would cut air pollution by over half and lead to improved public health outcomes while reducing pollutants that contribute to climate change.
The World Bank emphasizes that meeting this goal will require urgent action across borders and sectors. The organization draws on global best practices and analytical research to provide evidence about air pollution’s impacts and possible solutions.
Financing from the World Bank supports projects designed to turn knowledge into action in the region's most polluted areas. Efforts include working with governments on policy reforms that enable cleaner technologies and providing financial support for enterprises, farmers, and households adopting cleaner solutions.
Several specific programs are underway:
- In Bangladesh, a $290 million Clean Air Project aims to enhance monitoring systems, establish continuous emissions checks for industries, improve vehicle inspections, and introduce electric buses in Dhaka. This project is complemented by a $1.25 billion Green and Climate Resilient Development policy reform series that has introduced new regulations such as Air Pollution Control Rules and a National Air Quality Management Plan.
- In India, state-level clean air operations are being piloted in Uttar Pradesh—which has developed an airshed-based Clean Air Plan—and Haryana—where a multisector strategy targets transport, industry, and agriculture emissions.
- Pakistan’s Punjab Clean Air Program was approved in fiscal year 2025 as part of broader green development initiatives.
- In Nepal, activities are guided by findings from the "Towards Clean Air in Nepal: Benefits, Pollution Sources, and Solutions (2025)" report.
Key partners supporting these efforts include ICIMOD; the United Kingdom's Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), which provides funding through its Climate Action for a Resilient Asia program; and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). These collaborations help expand technical support and mobilize resources for cleaner industries, electric mobility initiatives, and stronger institutional capacity.
The World Bank maintains that while South Asia’s air pollution crisis is severe it can be addressed through coordinated action: “With coordinated action, strong policies, and sustained investment,” according to the organization’s statement,“countries across the region can clear the air and protect the health and future of millions.”