#OneSouthAsia Newsletter (September-October 2024) : Issue 25 (English)

For the World Bank Group, clean air in South Asia is a top priority. The 25th issue of the SARRE Newsletter focuses on steps countries are taking for air quality management including an aspirational target of 35x 35 - reaching air quality levels of 35 micrograms per cubic meter by 2035. Countries of the Indo-Gangetic Plain and Himalayan Foothills including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan share a common airshed, making air quality interdependent across borders. No city, state, or country can reduce air pollution to safe levels alone. However, with targeted national and local measures, along with coordinated regional action, this goal is achievable. The World Bank supports this with financing, convening, analytics, and technical assistance. This issue also focused on female labor force participation (FLFP), which is among the lowest in South Asia. Even in countries with high FLFP rates, women are often in the informal sector with low wages, lack of social protection, and no legal recognition.