The South Asia region has 9 of the 10 cities with the highest levels of air pollution.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations in some of the region's most densely populated and impoverished areas are up to 16 times the standard values. In a new World Bank (WB) publication "Striving for Clean Air: Air Pollution and Public Health in South Asia" experts analyzed the state of six “air basins” in the region and possible scenarios reducing the level of pollution. The authors draw attention to the importance of the interdepartmental and interregional cooperation.

The publication presents a roadmap for improving air control and management systems in South Asia. It includes the following steps:

• Stage 1: expansion of air monitoring zones beyond large cities, development of information exchange with representatives of civil society, creation of specialized scientific institutes
• Stage 2: stricter requirements for the protection of atmospheric air in agriculture and the processing industry
• Step 3: implementation of economic incentives to combat air pollution