South Asia faces one of the most severe air pollution crises in the world. The region records some of the highest levels of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, with concentrations in the Indo-Gangetic Plains and Himalayan Foothills (IGP-HF) more than twenty times higher than what the World Health Organization considers safe. This has serious health consequences, reducing life expectancy by up to three to five years in some of the most polluted areas.
The World Bank Group (WBG) serves as a leading development partner on air quality across South Asia, working closely with governments and partners to improve air quality so people can breathe clean air, be healthier, and live longer lives. Through an expanding set of investment projects and advisory and analytical support in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan, we help countries put in place policies and set in motion actions that make a difference for the people and the economies. These efforts focus on reducing emissions from the most harmful sources of air pollution, improving monitoring and governance systems, improving protection of vulnerable populations, and fostering regional collaboration.
In partnership with regional organizations such as ICIMOD, we convene governments, research institutions, and development partners through regional platforms such as the Science Policy and Finance Dialogues. This has led to the Kathmandu Roadmap and Thimphu Outcome advancing the region’s shared “35 by 35” vision to reduce fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels to 35 micrograms per cubic meter by 2035. Achieving this ambitious goal of cutting air pollution by more than half would lead to significantly improved health outcomes, make cities more livable, make economies more competitive, while also reducing important climate pollutants like black carbon, methane, and carbon dioxide.
Achieving “35 by 35” requires urgent, coordinated action across borders and sectors, supported by effective institutions, sound policies, and sustained investment.
As a knowledge organization, we draw on successful practices from countries that have effectively addressed pollution. Our analytical work contributes to a strong evidence base about the health and economic impacts of air pollution, its main sources, and barriers and opportunities for improving air quality across the region.
Our financing supports countries in the world’s most polluted airshed, the IGP-HF, to translate this knowledge and coordination into concrete investments.
We work with governments to strengthen macroeconomic, fiscal, and regulatory frameworks that enable the transition to cleaner technologies and practices. In parallel, the WBG supports catalytic financing instruments that help enterprises, farmers, and households adopt cleaner solutions at scale. By aligning policy reforms with targeted financial mechanisms, we help countries accelerate air-quality improvements, deliver climate benefits, and enable sustainable, private-sector-led growth. We are providing financing for clean air projects in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan and preparing a new project in Nepal. This includes the Punjab Clean Air Program in Pakistan, the Bangladesh Clean Air Project, and the India Clean Air Projects in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, with Nepal anticipated in 2026. These programs help countries scale up cleaner industrial production, accelerate electric mobility transition, improve agricultural practices, and strengthen air-quality management institutions.