The Environment Performance Index (EPI) 2016 at the World Economic Forum listed Nepal 177 among 180 countries in terms of air quality. Also according to EPI 75 percent of the total populations in Nepal are exposed to unsafe levels of fine particulate matters as air pollution. According to Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (2014) Kathmandu air contains 400 micrograms of particulate matter up to 10 micrometers in size per cubic meter or the PM10 is 400µg/m3. However, the maximum limit for PM10 set by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards is 120µg/m3. Also, Kathmandu air contains 260 micrograms of particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in size per cubic meter or the PM2.5 is 260µg/m3 against maximum limit of 40µg/m3 (Clean Energy Nepal, 2014).These all alarming status is the results of increase in population, rapid and unplanned urbanization, brick industries and increase in vehicular density in the city areas. The capital city, Kathmandu is the most densely populated city of Nepal with the population growth rate of 6% early in the 1980's. Also recently, Kathmandu was declared as the third most polluted city in the world.

    The major causes include rapid urbanization, industrialization, poorly maintained road and vehicles, Vehicular density and emission, lack of proper waste disposal, brick factories, ignorance of the people etc. All these have caused the air pollution to rise high and have hazardous effects on the environment as well as people's health. According to Nepal Health Research Council and the World Health Organization in 2009, an estimated 1,926 premature deaths occur in Kathmandu every year due to air pollution. This gives the clear view of the scenario of the capital city and which is simply pathetic. Different policy and measures have been brought ahead at different times to mitigate air pollution, including   Industrial Enterprises Act (1992), Environment Protection Act (1996), Vehicle exhaust emissions tests, Ban on three wheelers diesel tempos in Kathmandu valley: introduction of electric and gas powered vehicles, establishment of air quality monitoring stations in Kathmandu, Master plan for adoption of alternative energy technology and many more. But the sad truth is that these policy and measures aren?t implemented effectively, monitoring stations stopped working long ago, private vehicles are increasing everyday, there's  lack of a strategic air quality monitoring policy and the concept of an Air Quality Management System (AQMS) is absent in the national policy. Also there is lack in the ascientific studies and data source.
    Hence, Nepal needs to introduce measures that are way too effective and implement them strictly with their  main focus in preventing the problems of air pollution at source and then on control measures to abate problems(Air Pollution status,2001). Effective  air quality monitoring system, mass public awareness and education programmes, studies on impact of air pollution on the health , more studies and strictly implemented policies are some ways out to reduce these alarming air pollution in the capital city as well as other cities of the country.